Day by Day

A student was headed down the hall on Friday and the hall monitor asked, "Where you going?" He answered very seriously, "To see Mrs. Reed to make a deal." The hall monitor said, "Oh-why you look so serious?" The student answered, "It's like going to make a deal with the devil." Knowing the student, I laughed so hard when I heard that.....I think it's a compliment in some sort of way....I guess I am tough enough to be called the devil, but if you need to, you can make a deal with me, so I'm flexible. At least it gave me a good laugh for the day.

Katie, Brendan and I were discussing the topic of driving tests because Brendan is closely approaching 16 and Kelly just turned 16. Brendan said he had heard one of the questions on someone's test was, "what sign has 8 sides?" We laughed and then I said kiddingly, "I bet Keera could pass that test because she just worked on signs this week at school." Keera was sitting there too, so Katie said, "Keera - do you know how many sides a stop sign has?" Keera answered, "It's an octagon." Katie asked, "So how many sides does it have?" Keera answered, "Eight". So, maybe we'll have her try the driving test; she could probaby pass it.

Keera in her way of saying it like it is declared the other day, in front of grandpa, that he wasn't fun. Now, he had just spent an afternoon playing with her, so who knows where in her mind she was defining him as not fun. However, when we visited with a friend later that night, who just bought a labrador retriever puppy (beautiful brown with green eyes), Keera declared that this is how Grandpa could be fun. He could get a chocolate lab. The world according to Keera.....

For years I wondered when the boys would begin to be friends. They are 2.5 years apart and extremely different, so I am not surprised that it is a long time coming. However, I know in my heart that the two of them respect each other's strengths, even though they do not admit it. Well....be careful what you wish for....lately there is a new comradery forming and it borders on sister and mother mutiny. Brendan and Connor run a continuous teasing dialogue about Katie, as only brothers would. If they aren't picking on her, they are finding ways to get around me by using each other. Connor has the memory of an elephant, as they say, and Brendan could sweet talk anyone into anything. The two are quite the pair. They went from wanting to kill each other every night as they went into their bedrooms to laughing and joking with each other as they make their way around the house.....ok, I really love it-I have to admit it. I hope it grows and they appreciate each other's differ...

Make sure you are sitting down....I came home from grocery shopping and Brendan, 15 mind you, told me he had started the washer and done his own load of laundry. I was shocked and appreciative all at once. Wow-parenting is working to some degree...he didn't even ask for money!

I was running today and thinking about how I could have possibly picked up poison ivy again...knowing I am allergic and thinking I know what it looks like. Anyone who is gets it and is allergic knows that the itching can drive you to the point of insanity. Now I am not one for any type of torture; however, I started to think about this....wouldn't it be better to fight wars that would not kill people, but rather just take two years out of their life making them itch so badly that they wouldn't and couldn't possibly want to continue whatever wrong thing they are doing-with the threat that they would be "repoisoned"? On that note, I think I need to go find something fun to do because if I am at the point where my poison ivy is driving me to think about forms of torture, it is time to "get a life".

Check this scenario out.....A week and a half ago I had carpal tunnel surgery, so although I am doing better than the first two days, I still have stitches until Thursday and I can't move my hand in certain directions. Then on Friday night Bob twisted his knee playing softball. He ended up in the ER Saturday morning to find out that he may have done something to his MCL, so he can't walk without crutches, and with crutches his arms already sore. Well, the handicap couple decided to go to the movies last night-what a sight. Bob hobbling into the movie theatre to get tickets and then me trying to carry popcorn and soda balancing on one good wrist. I felt like we were both 80 years old. Please don't tell me this is what it is like as we grow older....