quick update.....

Spa visit with my friend was WONDERFUL!!!!!! Thoroughly enjoyed the massage, LOVED the sugar scrub (I don't thing anyone's bathed me since I was a VERY young child!) and the lying-down shower deal. And having champagne along with a pedicure is absolutely decadent! THANKS Connie for inviting me to share your weekend off! I must admit that I was also glad to make it home for the second half of the OSU game -- Go Bucks! Interesting statistic that there were NO passing yards in the first half. Sort of like the Saints' game Sunday where Pierre Thomas rushed over 100 yards ONLY in the second half (none in the first). Those statistics that you rarely see.....

I woke early on Sunday and took Tom to the airport for his flight to Calgary. After the emotional week last week, I am missing him much more than ever -- feeling a bit adrift and that's not quite "normal" for me. Bible study today helped me find an anchor, but I am still anticipating Tom's return Friday. Sunday continued with church followed by time at home followed by piano lesson and then the Saints' game. I've REALLY been taking the week off from cooking -- on the way home from church we stopped at the grocery and picked up a pizza. Maggie had left-over pizza Monday while Abby had frozen chicken nuggets. Tuesday was McDonald's between violin and ballet, and today we got take-out Chinese (and the girls have left-overs for tomorrow's dinner). Not bad!

Monday was Yom Kippur and my gym was closed. Therefore I started the morning at the grocery and then came home to exercise. Afternoon of ballet. The girl we carpool with is dancing Nutcracker, so our carpool has changed. We're still able to help out with at least one trip per class, but Monday Abby and I ended up staying out in Kenner during dance. We went to Walgreen's for a bit (buying Maggie a new lunch box among other items) and then to Starbuck's for a bit.

Tuesday I was back at the gym, then to the library. At home I framed two stictcheries for the girls' rooms, creating mats and framing them. Tom's got the wire for the hooks, so they are not hung yet. Oh, on Monday I also re-hung the photos in our bedroom to go with the new paint. ANYWAYS, I also ironed Tuesday (thrilling life, no?). As already mentioned, Abby had violin and is starting the last song in the first Suzuki book (which is REALLY hard). So I ordered the new book. Maggie had ballet, but I only had to pick her up.

Today was Bible study which truly was a blessing for me. Am feeling quite adrift. I went running this morning (3+ miles -- not bad for someone who usually walks!). Kind of funny -- while running my cell phone rang. It indicated the caller was Tom (In Case of Emergency). Couldn't figure out why he was calling from Calgary and was even more confused when I answered and Maggie was on the line. Finally I realized that I have the home phone (as well as work and cell) listed for the ICE number. Duh! After Bible study made the big trip to SAM'S. Not my favorite place to go, so I always stock up a LOT. Then to the coffee shop to do my homework. Pick up the girls, pick up Chinese food, home. Maggie went to ballet and then Abby and I went to get here and now, here we are, caught up on happenings in our life. WHEW!

Hoping your week isn't feeling as rough as mine.......

Looking forward to things

I try not to look forward to too many things in life in an effort to enjoy the "right now" more. That said, I am definitely a planner (much to my husband's chagrin!). Part of my rational for planning is that my primary job is taking care of 2 people who are pretty much incapable of fully caring for themselves (don't know how to do laundry, can't drive, no credit cards, etc. etc.). SO, if I'm not available for them, I need to "plan" to have someone else there. Enter Tom stage right. All that said, I am REALLY looking forward to this Saturday -- I get a day off with a friend I met in Houston. Our children (Abby and her son) were enrolled in the same kindergarten after Katrina. She lives in Slidell (east of New Orleans). Her husband travels extensively and, 3-4 times a year treats her to a weekend "off" using hotel points. So I'm meeting her Saturday morning at the Ritz for a day of pampering at their spa. Bliss!

Reality sets back in on Sunday when Tom leaves for Canada.....

In other news, Maggie is not going to dance Nutcracker this year. The performance was scheduled the weekend preceding winter exams (unlike other years when it's been the week earlier) -- not only for her school but also for all the high schools. She tried out and was excited to hear that she'd been selected for a solo part this year. However, when she got the "official" sheet she'd also been selected for 3 other parts -- a bit much on top of 5 classes a week (at least in my opinion -- Tom already considers 5 classes a week excessive). So, she accepted for 3 of the parts. Apparently, that's not an option -- it's "all or nothing". So, after lots of talking and tears, she's opted out this year. Not a happy decision at all. While I appreciate that this performance is the biggest money-maker for the ballet school, I find it unreasonable that young girls should be expected to dance so many roles. Without an option to "choose". But that's me (and the mom of an affected girl!). We'll see what happens eventually.....now the director needs to fill 4 roles rather than just the one Maggie didn't want to dance.....

Abby continues to do well. She's really coming along on her violin (who knew?) and is composing music for her latest hobby -- she shuts herself in the dining room with the piano and writes out all the notes and everything. 9 is just about as sweet as 8 was, though there is certainly more homework in 4th grade as well as more responsibility.

As for me, I continue to time my "enjoyable" activities around the girls' schedules -- everything "must" get done between 9 and 2!!!!! And this pretty much includes anything that requires me to be out of the house, including grocery shopping.....never a dull moment!

Stop the World -- I want to get off (at least temporarily!)....

Ever have one of those days when EVERYTHING needs to be done? I don't remember how I got everything done when I was working (of course, I didn't have as much kid-shuffling to do then!). CRAZY days here. Saturday Maggie decided to go ahead and try out for Nutcracker, even though the performances are the weekend prior to exams. I am not thrilled at all about this. She worries and frets over exams a LOT and, of course, we'll have company over the weekend AND, therefore, I will not be able to be her study-buddy as is "normal". Sigh. On the flip side, it would be good for her to learn to do more of the studying solo for the longer term, she does love to dance, and while grades are important, a couple/few Bs aren't going to kill her, right? I just hate that she's already stressed about it -- she's only 12 and should be thinking more about having fun rather than where she'll be for high school next year and all that stuff. Guess it's easier if you've got good public schools and "everyone" goes to the same place, no? Sigh. So, I dropped her off for class for 1pm Saturday. She was asked to "demonstrate" at the 2pm try-outs for the little girls. Then her try-out was at 2:45. Abby and I showed up about 3:30 to pick her up and go to piano lesson. It soon became clear that try-outs were lasting longer than we'd anticipated, so we called and re-scheduled piano and just went home when she was done. WHEW! Got to watch OSU lose Saturday night -- I watched the end of the game in bed, but apparently fell asleep and woke up at the end, still thinking we'd won. In the morning I told Tom OSU had won, then read the paper and realized I was wrong! At least I had a nice 12 hours or so thinking we'd beat USC!

Sunday morning was church, then I watched the Saints. We had to leave during the third quarter for piano, but they had it on at their house so I was able to see the end of the game. Kind of fun to see the rookie QB for the Lions -- he managed to keep his cool for the most part, and played fairly well. It'll be interesting to watch him develop!

Today was hectic-errand-day. Drop the girls off early today for Abby to have choir. Go to the gym, do yoga. Grocery. Home, unpack groceries, fold towels. Clean up the girls' mess that's been driving me crazy. Take a bath. Eat lunch. Run to the dry cleaner (WHEN did dry-cleaning get so expensive!). Go to the library. Pick the girls up from school. Come home. Get Maggie off for ballet. Make dinner. Go pick Maggie up from ballet. WHEW!!!!!!!

Hope your week goes well!

September 11

Yup, it's "that" anniversary again. For many of us, there are days that we remember exactly where we were, who we were with, etc. when certain events occurred. When the Challenger exploded, I was home from school with a migraine. It was also the day my parents brought my sister home from the hospital after some surgery. She came in and turned on the TV, which really annoyed me as I was lying on the couch with a migraine. But the pain was forgotten as the images unfolded.

On 9/11/2001, Tom and I were newly arrived in The Hague after leaving our daughters with my parents and putting our house in Houston on the market after restoring it after flooding due to Tropical Storm Allison. We'd both started new jobs. Tom was on a business trip in London and I was looking forward to week alone -- not being accountable to anyone or having anyone look to me for company or assistance (quite a luxury with a 4 year old and 18 month old!). I was sitting in a conference in a hotel in The Hague with a whole bunch of new colleagues (and a few that I'd know previously). We were a group of folks from all over the world. The first calls came to one of the gentlemen from a secretary with the news that "a plane hit the World Trade Center". We were all (as were many around the world) thinking a small plane made a mistake. Then, of course, it got worse. I sat up all night in my hotel room, calling my mom (thank God I was able to get through!) to check on my girls, watching CNN and the BBC. Tom was still carrying a US cell phone and was calling me from the hotel line. They'd evacuated Shell Centre in London due to its status as a potential target. All flights were cancelled, etc. The next morning we came back into our conference, thinking how small we were and how relatively meaningless our meeting's purpose was. We muddled through the day. All colleagues who were not living in Holland were forced to extend their stays. Tom managed to get a train home for the weekend which was certainly a blessing to me. My biggest impact was when I went back to the US a couple weeks later to bring the girls home and encountered all the new security. This was when they were still x-raying you as you got OFF the plane as well as before you got on. But seeing the smiles on my little girls faces made it all worthwhile.

What a strange world we live in that there are so many people who believe such acts are appropriate against innocent people. I (personally) feel that our country, as much as I love it, is not immune to this sort of behavior. But I digress. So please hold back on any nasty comments! I am a strong believer in education, tolerance, and talk. I appreciate that war and violence have a place, but perhaps not as big a place as our world seems to have for it.

Enough on that. Ballet has started and Maggie's had 2 classes. Suffering rain EVERY day this week during carpool which makes for unhappy people (it's pouring right now, sigh). Orthodontist appointment this afternoon followed by a trip to Michael's for supplies for a 7th grade project. The joys of my life!

My Labor Day

It may not have been traditional, but it was rather satisfying in its own way. I managed to "sleep in" until after 7am, which, considering I'd fallen asleep before 9:30 was a good amount of sleep! I enjoyed the cooler (although quite humid) morning and went walking -- first time in my new shoes without hurting blisters (which are still healing). Came home to bathe and headed to the grocery in an effort to get a jump on the week (Maggie begins dancing again this week, so anything I can get done early is good!). Came home to find Maggie and Tom at du Monde for beignets, unloaded the groceries, and read the paper and checked e-mail. Did some mending (a button had broken on Tom's blazer), did a TON of ironing, and sat down to read a book. Monica Ali's "In the Kitchen". Not my favorite, but she writes well.

And that was the day that was. So, no picnics, no watermelon, no swimming, etc. Just quiet and rest (watching Maggie do homework -- poor thing!).

Hope yours was all you wanted it to be.

An update on a busy Friday and Saturday.....

What a great two days! Friday morning came oh so early. Managed to get the girls off to school and on toward the gym. Rode the bike for a while and enjoyed yoga class. Only 7 students, so we were able to have a "wall" class wherein yoga becomes even more 3 dimensional as you can use the wall for stretching and support. Came home as planned in anticipation of Terminix for the regular 3 month drill. One thing about the south, having an exterminator visit is in no way an indication of poor housekeeping skills! Not that mine are great, but anyone who can has they guy come out with his various potions. Meanwhile, the men coming to take away the playset in the backyard were also here. At 9 and 12 the girls were no longer using the equipment and we were planning on posting fliers with a photo -- "free" just come and get it. My cousin let her neighbors know and they were interested, so they rented a trailer and showed up. I hope they're able to put it back together again! The girls really enjoyed it while it was here, but the backyard looks so empty without it.

Next stop for me was to pick up the girls for a bit of time at home. Then we dressed and attended the Friday evening ONEG service at Temple Sinai in New Orleans. Maggie's good friend celebrated her Bat Mitzvah this weekend and we were invited to attend the service and the following dinner. Never having been to one before, we were quite interested in attending and seeing Maggie's friend reading the Hebrew during part of the service. Dinner at a local Chinese restaurant followed which, of course, was wonderful.

Saturday morning saw us dressing up again for the Bat Mitzvah service itself. Maggie's friend led the bulk of the service, chanting the Hebrew. Her school friends sat in the front two rows in support for her. I was amazed. She attended 2 years of Hebrew school in preparation and it was lovely. The Cantor at the congregation has a wonderful voice and was wonderful to listen to as well as to sing with (although I didn't see much of an improvement in my Hebrew!). When the service was over it was absolutely pouring rain outside, creating difficulties for all inside as it had been quite sunny when we arrived. The kids were taking a bus over to the luncheon, so Maggie went with them. Tom ran across the street and drove our car up to the doorway (thankfully we'd been able to park nearby!). And we were thankful that his suit was lined, so although he got wet, it didn't seem to affect his comfort level too much. Abby and I were able to get into the car without getting too wet (thanks Tom!). We then went to the luncheon. We were seated at a table with many of the parents from the school -- poor Tom was the only male in attendance -- he is truly a good sport! After this we headed home for a bit of rest.

In the evening, Maggie and I attended the party. This was held at a facility near the French Quarter. We rode with a neighbor/friend. I am definitely feeling old as the volume of the music seemed so loud! I sat with several of the other mom's at a table and had a wonderful time. The food was good, the dancing was fun for those that dance (I was forbidden to dance), and the highlight was a video. For her Bat Mitzvah project the girl raised money and collected food for the SPCA and other local animal shelters. The video began by showing photos of her at various life stages with family and friends. Then she spoke about her project and thanked us all for supporting her. At the end her family and friends danced to "YMCA" substituting lyrics about the "SPCA". They were all in various costumes and it was filmed all over New Orleans. Maggie had been asked to participate, so it was special for me to see her in it! I came home a bit early, leaving Maggie in the care of our neighbor. She got home about 11:30. Not late as in the "latest I've ever been out", but late for my current custom in life. THANKS to all who provided so much fun, demonstrated so much love, and welcomed us to participate in so many ways.

This morning Maggie went to church with me. I think we're both sleepy! Heading to a re-scheduled piano lesson in about 20 minutes, then quiet for the rest of the holiday. No plans for tomorrow aside from attempting to sleep in, and, if it works out, doing the weekly grocery run. Hope you all enjoy your holiday!

Thursday

Many people celebrate Wednesday as it's the middle of the week -- me, I prefer Thursday. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are taken up with activities, errands, etc. So THURSDAY is usually the day I have to sit back for a few minutes. Today I met with a friend for coffee. Not bad! Ballet classes haven't started yet, so we're home after school as well (with the amount of homework Maggie's been having, that's a blessing!).

Yesterday we celebrated Tom's birthday. He wanted either orange or strawberry cake. Since I'm a woman who believes in the power of mixes, strawberry won out (no orange cake mix out there!). I was talking with my mom on the phone and she recalled the first strawberry cake she made, back in the 70s when they didn't have the pink cake mix. She bought a white cake mix and blended in real strawberries. While it tasted really good, it had a rather gray cast to it. Guess she didn't think about food coloring! Anyway, the cake was yummy, Tom got to open his gifts, and he thanks all for the b-day wishes.

In other news, not too much going on yet (aside from errands, homework, and other tedious items). This weekend we're attending one of Maggie's friends' Bat Mitzvah. Having never been to one, I'll be sure to track all the details! It's at a reform temple (are you supposed to capitalize that?) in New Orleans, and there's a series of events and services on both Friday evening and all day/evening Saturday. PHEW!

Enjoy the close of the week!