Cell Phone Dump

In the age of technology where even my crappy cell phone can take pictures, I often capture a quick moment or two...usually to send over to a friend or relative. And then I keep them on my phone.  Sometimes I might look them over again.  

With summer here, I want to make room for more random photos...so here are some random photos now deleted from my phone.

January -- Michael was lying down listening to his MP3 player when Willow came along and wanted to listen in.  Gladly, Michael shared the music with her as they snuggled up.

The end of the Birthday Party day...and the sleep over munchies have already gotten into another monster cake.  I snap this one because I wanted Ana to see that her cake(s) were a hit even after the party.  (Also, Wolfman looks kinda cool all half-cut)

Some photos are really old--this one is from April 2011.  Michael getting ready for class.

Willow Style--earlier this spring at the Concord River.

First meal on the new kitchen table! (Yeah, yeah, living it up in style!)

You know, I could fix this to not be sideways--but I don't care...it is still dolphin safe!

At the same carnival that the dolphin photo was taken.  Both photos taken to send to daddy who was not there...

Oldie photo--from September 2011...to prove that yes, even a girly girl plays with trucks!

Skates in the Car...

After Willow's birthday, I took her roller skating in her new skates.  I decided that it would be a good idea to leave them in the car for those impromptu skate opportunities....then promptly kinda forgot about them.  (I say kinda because I would see them and there was not the opportunity--or the opportunity was there but I forgot them...or it rained...)

But Tuesday--I remembered them! And the opportunity was perfect!  And she did a good job--not totally confident enough to try to "skate" like I remember doing--but she was very comfortable and enjoyed shuffling along.

A moment before was a perfect picture--she was crouched down smelling the flower...

Dad's Home...

Flying on stand-by (through a relative), Chewy was able to go to Michigan to be there for his Grandma's funeral.  The trip there on Thursday was easy--coming home...that was another matter.  After spending a looong night at the airport in Chicago (the last flight he was not able to get on, so he spent the night at the airport), he arrived home this morning.  

He arrived just as I was leaving for a job interview.  A bedraggled person in a suit comes in, while a crisp, pressed pre-interview person is leaving.  We exchange "hi's" then have a small argument because we are both tired (for different reasons).   Later I call him for help with directions to the interview--the navigation computer had taken me to the wrong address....

I come home from the interview and he is upstairs sleeping.  I cuddle up to him and afterwards he has favorite pasta dish for a local restaurant (the kids and I went there for lunch yesterday).

Then it is time to pick Michael up from school...and we have a plan.  I pick him up and say "hey, wanna get some ice cream?" We go to a local ice cream parlor--and there is his dad, waiting for him!  (Well, actually, he walked PAST Michael who went back to the car to put something away--and did not see him walk past him).  

Dad had brought gifts for Michael and me...but was not able to get a stuffed puppy for Willow (that was her request).  Since we are in separate cars, we split up--and weirdly enough both stop off to get her a gift--and wierdly enough they are both siberian husky puppies--one is smaller than the other, so they are a mommy and baby.

Above is the reaction she had to seeing daddy (puppies in her arms).  (Well, at first she acted rather shy when she walked into the house).

Envy

She swings. She swings in an old purple jacket, unzipped. Sparkle shoes helping her propel forward and back. It is a rainy, cold,dark day. Most people would want to snuggle up on the couch. She wants to swing, has been out twice today to do so. She swings and her cares are as simple as mine are complex. No wonder the old envy the young.

Rainy, Dreary Days...

Unfortunately, the weather has mirrored our lives lately.  Right after Memorial Day, we lost someone.

Went out to lunch on a stormy Saturday with a friend whose mother was dying of cancer.  Got home to find correspondence from the government confirming that I will be cut off of unemployment after this extension (whether or not I have a job).  Before I went out to lunch, Chewy got the call that his Grandmother was going into hospice.

Yesterday I got a love note from the IRS saying we owe taxes from two years ago (we HOPE it is a mistake). My friend called to say her mother passed away that morning.  Chewy's Grandmother is getting worse...

I guess we are living the phrase "when it rains, it pours..."

Happy June 1st---Being Outside!

Playing with chalk a couple of days ago.  She dressed herself up for going out.  The day before Michael had made a drawing of a zombie (from Half Life--so it has a head crab on it).

Another try at using a leash on a cat.  Kif always wants to go out, but we live on a busy street--worry about him and Gabby getting hit.  Yesterday the kids took Kif out for a bit...he LOVED it.

Family

When you move about 800 miles away from your family, you end up having to make connections with others to create that family.

Someone dear to me sent me a plaque a few years ago which I love: "Friends are the Family we choose for Ourselves."

It took us a few years, but we have acquired such friends and I am proud to consider them part of our family.

It is especially nice when someone who is not your flesh and blood takes you in and makes you feel like you are a part of their family.  Someone who dotes on your children and asks them those questions that only relatives ask.  Someone who takes pictures of your kids because she wants to.  Who sends you emails with pictures of those times (in montages even!).

Unfortunately, when you get close to someone you also have to feel heartbroken when they go.

Dee, you made me and my family feel welcome in yours.  You doted on my children like a grandmother.
And you showed how us how to face adversity with a positive fighting attitude.

Thank you for being a part of our lives.  You will be missed.

Pressure Is On...UPDATED

June 9th will be my One Year Anniversary--no, I won't be celebrating (although maybe I will have chocolate).

On that date, one year ago--I was reluctantly laid off.  I am on my 2nd extension of Unemployment Benefits.  I have had many many interviews (some with staffing agencies, some with actual employers).  I still don't have a job.  And time is running out.

Frankly, I am not sure what more I can do.  I am on all the job sites.  I have honed my interview technique--I even get comments like "you are great" "you are setting the bar high" "I'm thrilled with you"---all of which end up with me getting my hopes up--but being told I was a second or third choice candidate (or they never call back at all).  I have started to make concessions on what I can and cannot do as per location and salary (unfortunately, there is not a lot of wiggle room there).

When the benefits go away--I have no idea what we will do.  I have never been unemployed this long.  The budget is already tight--I can only make it so much tighter. The end of July will be the end of my 2nd extension.  I may qualify for a 3rd.  The pressure is on.

UPDATED: Well, it is official.  I got the letter today in the mail. I will not be getting a third extension.  I believe I will be cut off at the end of July.  If anyone has some ideas about how to cut costs, please let me know...I am running out of ideas.

Fashion Show

Bought Willow a few outfits for the summer.

Riding a plastic Dolphin won at Carnival.

Saying hi to Daddy in another outfit...

Obviously, this outfit needs an undershirt...

"i love you more than ice cream" - she is wearing this to Preschool tomorrow.

Interactions

On Saturday, it was just me and the kids. I enjoyed taking them out to a Carnival and later on to a discovery museum. The funny part is that this was a museum that I had taken Michael to when he was Willow's age. Stranger still--we were going there for free because it was an event for families that have children on the autism spectrum. (At Willow's age, I had no idea my son had any such issues...how time changes perspectives...)


Michael was definitely one of the more high functioning children there--and it made me feel guilty for any of the times I have felt bad for our situation. (In fact, one little boy about 5 years old was so taken with Michael that all he wanted to do was follow him around and hug him--and his shoes). Michael took it in stride (which is really good since he has issues with his personal space, etc.)

More importantly, it was great to see him interacting with his sister. A lot of people commented to me about how great he was with her (which is so true).

Table Time

We got a new kitchen/dining room table yesterday. We finally decided we couldn't wait for me to get a job before getting a new set--the old table was wobbly beyond repair, a couple of the chairs were breaking and to top it off, this past Thanksgiving, the table leaves broke.
The new table is more elegant than our previous one. It makes us giddy and feel grown up...and at first I was not sure why it produced such weird feelings. Until I was looking through old pictures to try to figure out how long we had had the other table...and found a picture of Michael sitting at the table--in 2001.

Hmm..I thought Willow was the only one to put her sunglasses on upside down...

So, good bye old table!  We actually have one of the original chairs (we had replaced the chairs a while ago)  so you will be around in more than spirit.

Hello, to elegant and more grown up!  

Let's see how long we can keep this table! (I made sure to get a 5 year maintenance warranty!)

Maturation

Both kids are on growth spurts.  

Michael, for the moment, is growing in more the physical sense.  He is starting to get the veracious appetite of a teenager.  He reminds me of a Hobbit.  Luckily, he is generally a good judge of healthy foods--however I have noticed he is trending towards the junk food more...trying to keep stores of healthy snacks (along with some not so healthy--hey it is childhood after all!) has been a challenge.  

As for mental maturity--he seems to want to join in on adult discussions even more than he used to.  It is interesting to see him try to engage in political discussions, etc. For him to overcome his social awkwardness to enter a discussion is already an extra level.  It is also a struggle because he is caught between the worlds of a child and an adult.  

For Willow, she is figuring out how the world works.  She is constantly questioning how and why things are. And she is often getting into things to understand how they work.  She is also trying to grasp her imagination and what is real and what is not.  

Learning responsibility and guilt also seem to be on her mind lately.  The last couple of days she has "told" on someone.  "Someone" scribbled all over my grocery list tonight.  And it wasn't her.  Nope.  She is not sure who, but she wanted to point it out to me and when asked, she is totally innocent of any crime.  

Tonight I read her Dad's Dinosaur Day.  It is a fun little tale of a dad who is turned into a dinosaur for a day and hangs out with his son.  Tonight she asked how that could be possible.  I said magic.  And then she worried about whether I might get turned into a dinosaur because she would not want that at all.  The worries of a four year old.  

It is so fascinating to watch both of them learn and master their world.  

Low Key - Mother's Day 2012

With Michael being a teen and Willow being four--it has been low key for Mother's Day (not that we ever do anything that over the top--usually I get to sleep in, have breakfast in bed, perhaps a few home made gifts, then dinner out).  But, because of various circumstances, we changed things up this year.

We went out to dinner last night at a Japanese Steakhouse.  It was the same one we went to for my birthday last year.

Then the actual definition of mom was in play--at 4 a.m. this morning.  When Willow came into our bedroom soaking wet.  Yep, she had an accident in her bed, so we got up...just like a well oiled, sleepy machine--we got her bedding off her bed, got her into new pjs and got her bed re-set up.  And then she wanted to sleep in her bed.  Which we let her do.  (Dad was able to move her to her bed later.)

Everyone let me sleep in until 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.  Michael came in with a laptop to wish me Happy Mother's Day with a go.og.le doo.dle.  Willow came in later in her footie pjs, baseball cap, and a spectre with a skull head to wish me the same.  (Her gift she made at preschool was given to me earlier this week...she is not good on keeping surprises...)

Later we will be going to take my mom to lunch.

Getting Physicals

The last couple of years I have had the kids get their check ups together.  Mainly because scheduling time to take off work can become bothersome. So far it has worked even though their ages and genders are different.  Michael hasn't hit puberty--I am sure next year will be different and we will have to make separate appointments.

We went to the doctor's appointment after school.  Michael went first.  The dynamic is different now as he is old enough to answer the doctor's questions on his own (generally speaking).  Being the big brother, he did real well with his shot too.  He is almost as tall as me (I have 3 inches on him) and he has gained some weight (which is good because before he was too skinny).

Willow's turn and she had no problem--although she did start early on the "I don't want a shot" whining...

She had two shots--loved how the doctor came in and basically ran in and made one stab on each arm--it was like Buffy the Vampire Slayer!  Of course, Willow was still upset...the promise of lollipops eased the hurt though.  (She did say she is "never, ever" having a shot again).

Willow is almost four feet tall and is growing quite well!  She made sure to not only stand on one foot, but to then hop around on alternating feet.

Getting a urine sample from Willow, she then said she needed to BM...luckily not on my hands that were holding her sample cup underneath.  I took the urine sample, leaving her to finish...for the next few minutes we were all treated to her song stylings while doing her bathroom duty.

While waiting for our physical form print outs, the kids sat in the waiting area eating their lollipops.  Some teenage girls were leaving and one of them said "Hi Michael."  Which meant that he cringed while sucking on his lollipop...so teenager!  I talked with a lady nearby about him being shy about the girls...and he made sure to point out to us that he did not acknowledge them because he HATES one of the girls  (who made sure to address him twice)....the lady and I chuckled at how that HATE usually becomes something else....

Earwig Sync

Watched Tangled again today with Willow.  We bought it with Birthday Money--figured she had several Rapunzel dolls now...and the repeated showings have begun.  It was a cold and rainy day, so it was actually nice to snuggle up with her and watch.  I like this movie and find her one of the least annoying Dis*ney Pr*in*ces*ses around.  We actually went to the theater to see it originally--I think Willow was not quite as impressed.  Now it has struck her.

This song is stuck in my head:

Seven A.M., the usual morning line-up
Start on the chores, and sweep 'til the floor's all clean
Polish and wax, do laundry and mop and shine up
Sweep again
And by then
It's, like, seven-fifteen

And so I'll read a book
Or maybe two or three
I'll add a few new paintings
To my gallery
I'll play guitar and knit and cook
And basic'ly
Just wonder, when will my life begin

Then, after lunch, it's puzzles, and darts,and baking...
Paper-mache, a bit of ballet, and chess....
Pottery and ventriloquy, candle-making...
Then I'll stretch
Maybe sketch
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/tangled-lyrics/when-will-my-life-begin-lyrics.html ]
Take a climb
Sew a dress

And I'll re-read the books
If I have time to spare
I'll paint the wall some more
I'm sure there's room somewhere
And then I'll brush, and brush
And brush, and brush my hair
Stuck in the same place I've always been
And I'll keep wond'ring
And wond'ring
And wond'ring
And wond'ring
When will my life begin.....

I think it kinda syncs into how I feel about my life right now.  We are stuck in a bit of a rut...well, especially me...I am stuck in a rut.  I have been unemployed for almost a year now.  I have taken advantage of this time (mostly).  And I have been pretty successful in getting my resume out there and getting interviews.  I have just not landed a job YET.   And I am wondering when the rest of my life can begin again...

Sounds kind of pathetic when I say that but it is true.  I am definitely not defined by my job.  And I can tell you that I have genuinely enjoyed having this extra time with the kids.  BUT.  I am not a person who likes to be idle.  I am not a person who likes to be without a firm plan.  Being unemployed causes both those things.  Not to mention the financial burden or the fact that without the extra money home improvements are out.  Or that we are going to need a newer car eventually....or the million other things running in my head.

Basically, I am to the point that I have run out of things to do...now I want my life to get back on track again.

Water Works

She is in the bathroom.  I am sure she is done and is washing her hands.  Then I kinda just tune her out, getting distracted with other things.  I realize she is still in there and that I did just notice her coming out and getting a few dolls/animals...and she is back in the bathroom.

I come into the bathroom and see the water is still flowing into the sink.  She has learned to close the sink drain.  A waterfall of water is overflowing over the sink onto the floor.  I have to laugh...as I tell her in as stern a tone as I can...to please don't bathe her toys in the bathroom sink. (She had just had a bath a few hours before!)

The next day, she was proud to tell us that her stuffed puppy dog Jack was doing well at potty training! (Yep, Jack was potty training and then fell into the toilet).

A Very Willow Birthday Party...

On Sunday we had a Fourth Birthday party for Willow (whose Birthday is today).  We invited a few children from Preschool, family and friends.  Everybody came!

It was pretty chaotic, plenty of food, tokens and running around.  It was a lot of fun!

On the hot chocolate ride!

The purple girls!

Getting a crown and now blowing out the candles!  The cake was YUMMY!

Grabbing flying tickets with a friend!  She has over 700 tickets...

Activity time!  Big brother helps.

Dancing with Chuck.

Again with the hot chocolate ride--a favorite!

A Mad Time

Busy day started off by going to Boston Comic Con and going to see the Mad Magazine Panel.  We got to hear stories from Al Feldstein, Al Jaffee, and Paul Coker, Jr.

It was amazing to see and hear these guys talk about something that has been so influential to our family.

Michael started finding my old Mad Magazines when he was about eleven years old.  One of his presents for his twelfth birthday I got him a subscription of his own, which I renewed this year.

Michael brought the latest issue with him to the Con and he was able to get Paul Coker, Jr. and Al Feldstein to sign it.

Then he went up to the panel (before it was started) to talk to Al Jaffee.  I really don't know what he talked to him about, but he really felt it important to talk to him and not bother him to get his signature.

(He has a signature of Al Jaffee on a Mad book that his dad got him from NYC Con).


It was a very exciting way to start the day!

Willow also got a signed Paul Coker, Jr.--he also drew Frosty the Snowman; so, we received a print with Frosty wishing her a Happy Birthday from Frosty and Mr. Coker.

Four Years

Four years ago a long-awaited wish was about to come true.  In less than a week,  I was about to finally have that sibling for my son.  I was about to meet my only daughter.  I was so proud of how hard we had fought to get to that point.

Now...I am in total wonder at the darling little girl I see growing up in front of me.

She is full of energy and curiosity.    Her personality is developing and emerging and it is so wonderful to watch.

A glimpse at Willow on the verge of being FOUR:

• Recently the "whys" have begun.  Questions come quickly and with thought as to how the world works and why.  It is exasperating sometimes but it is rewarding to see how she is learning about her world.

• She loves to make up songs about almost anything.  

• She is a bit frustrated because she is not quite able to draw her letters, but we are working on it and her sense of accomplishment when she does it is incredible.  Her counting is a bit better--although she likes to throw in the occasional letter into the mix "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, R, 10, 11, W"    (btw, "W" is for Willow!)

• Favorite phrases: "...just joking!"; "...how about that, isn't that a great idea?"; "...oh, that is beautiful!"; "How about I play the baby and you be the mommy?"

• She has a sly grin and charming ways to get things she wants: another round of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; some Dunkin Donuts; "just two more minutes"

• Her sense of style, with her love of shoes and tutus, dresses and barrettes.  Her love of pretty things in general.

• Our influences on her are evident in her love of zombies and monsters (especially werewolves).

• She loves her brother--has already says she wants to marry him when she grows up.

• Loves getting tickled, loves playing hide and seek and loves playing with the cats.

• She is very friendly.  She will come up to complete strangers to say "hi" and to ask where the bathroom is.  She is a little go-getter.

• She seems to have a love/hate relationship with bugs.  We recently tried to address this by letting her keep a beetle in a jar for a bit--to get her on board with the fact that bugs are a part of the outdoors life..she loved the beetle to pieces--but our cats also wanted to "love" the beetle, so we had her send it "home" in a patch of leaves outdoors.

• She loves climbing and swinging and running and dancing.  Sometimes all at once.

There is so much I wish I could capture about Willow here.  But my words are inadequate.  Spending time with her can be exhausting (I call her Whirlwind Willow).  Those times when she does slow down, I hold her in my arms, brush aside her hair from her ear.  That ear that I saw so long ago in an ultrasound...I cannot imagine our world without her.

Patriot's Day Weekend

Near North Bridge

This was a beautiful weekend to enjoy not only nature but history.  The weekend before April 19th (Patriot's Day) is full of activities.  We saw re-enactors on horses along Battle Road, we talked to a re-enactor who, as a British surgeon, showed us all the tools of his trade.

We did not see any of the battle re-enactments...mainly cuz Willow is not the long-haul traveler type that Michael was/is.  Half-way to anywhere she demands to be "uppy uppy" and she is just getting too old to be carried for any length of time by anyone...so we made our walks short but they were still interesting.

Today we went to Concord and took dandelions and dropped them from the North Bridge.  We watched them float down the river.

To enjoy the nature, the activity and to have the family together and relaxed.  It was a great weekend.

100 Years

Lyrics and Song Sample from HERE.

 the rich folks decided to take a trip on the finest ship that was ever built. the captain persuaded the people to think that the titanic too safe to sink


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down! 


the ship left the harbor at a rapid speed, carrying everything that people need. she sailed six-hundred miles away, met an iceberg in her way. 


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down! 


 the ship left the harbor, was running fast. it was her first trip and her last. way out on that ocean wide an iceberg ripped her in the side. 


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down! 


 up comes bill from the bottom floor said the water was running in the boiler door. go back bill, and shut your mouth, we got forty-eight pumps to keep the water out! 


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down! 

 just about then the captain looked around, he saw the titanic was sinking down. he gave orders to the men around: "get your life-boats and let them down" 


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down! 


 the men standing around like heroes brave, nothing but the women and the children to save; the women and the children are wiping their eyes, kissing their husbands and friends good-bye. 


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down! 


 on the fifteenth day of may nineteen-twelve, the ship wrecked by an iceberg ocean dwell. the people were thinking of jesus of nazarene, while the band played "nearer my god to thee." 


 chorus: out on the o-o-o-ocean the great wide o-o-o-ocean the titanic, out on the ocean, sinking down!

Checking out the Clarinet...

Last month we went to the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Family Music Day.  The concert was really well done (although towards the end, all the children were fidgety).

Before the concert, they had an Instrument Playground, where kids could try out different instruments...and even though Michael has one at home, and even though there was a long line...they wanted to try out the clarinet.

Back to Normal

Chewy came home Monday, has to check his white blood levels on Friday. My mom is moved in, but has lots of unpacking to do. I had a good interview and Michael missed his Social Skills class because of it. Yesterday, Chewy worked from home and rested. Today he goes in. And this morning I woke up with a sore throat.

Visitors

Lunch time and we walk to the cafeteria.  He sits with her (she has "helped' him with his IV cart) while me and the boy get food.  This time there is chicken with corn and green beans.  Enough for everyone!  And I pick up a burger (as requested by the patient) and two things of pudding (chocolate and vanilla).

We sit down and eat our food.  Everyone has their share, and he enjoys the food even more so (liquid diets are not fun!)  I almost forget we are at hospital and not just at some cafe at a museum.

We go back to his room and we turn on television to amuse ourselves in the cramped room.  "Sound of Music" is on...she sits on his lap and has a glass of ginger ale with him (they "clink" plastic cups).

We sit and enjoy watching her watch for the first time.  (If only there were not commercials...)

We are family.  We are happy.

19th Anniversary Dinner and Trips to the ER...

As my little description says on this blog--life is messy and chaotic.  And boy, the last few days have totally lived up to that!

So, April 3rd was our 19th Wedding Anniversary.  My mother is staying at our house until her furniture/stuff gets here, so she offered to watch the kids while we went out.  

Chewy took this opportunity to get all romantic-like.  He mysteriously had me meet him at Lexington Green (we were married in Lexington).  And then he took over driving (something that usually makes me motion sick). Not only was he driving, but he had me blindfolded too.  We arrived in Arlington, and I had a guess where we might be going...

See, we like to sometimes tell people we eloped...because essentially, we did in a lot of ways.  We had just moved 800 miles away from family and friends.  Young college graduates with no money.  Our families were not going to be able to give us a wedding (either there or where we were located).  So, we took upon ourselves.  We arranged the Justice of the Peace and the reception.  Which was at a Chinese restaurant in Arlington....which is where I thought we were going....

But as I started to steer us towards that place, my husband said: "Oh no, we are not going there...." and he took me to a nice romantic Argentian restaurant.

We had a romantic time...so much so that we decided not to go to the movie afterwards, but just hang out and walk together in the cool night air.

And then...well, midnight til about 9 a.m. Chewy was not feeling too good.  Abdominal pain and other fun (no up chuckn' tho).  

So, I postponed my job interview the next day to spend the day with him in the ER.  By 2 p.m. they had no idea what was up...and the pain medications seemed to be doing the trick....so we went home.

By 10 p.m. that evening, he had a fever of 102.4 and was delirious.  Soooo...back to the ER.  Where they ran several more tests (adding to the stomach CTScan of the afternoon, he had a head CTScan and more blood drawn).  By 4 a.m. they knew he had an infection and they knew that the antibiotics were seeming to work...but they had no idea WHAT was causing the infection.

Flash forward to today.  Chewy has been admitted to the hospital since Thursday and he has had a lumbar punction, a heart ultrasound and blood cultures drawn.  The antibiotics have been doing the trick but they STILL have no idea what caused his illness.  So, they want to keep him there for a few more days to make sure that he doesn't have another fever and to check out the blood cultures.

Yesterday, the kids and I visited him for lunch; today we will do the same.  I talked to him this morning and he is feeling fine and is BORED silly.

We are both still worried about the fact that they don't know what caused his infection.  However, we both acknowledge that his work schedule the past 2 weeks probably did not help.

Hopefully, he will be back home on Monday.

Meanwhile...I guess we won't be going back to that restaurant for a while...the associations are too strong.

Middle School Wisdom...

The Strong Spartans

By Michael 

Sources From: www.ancientgreece.com

The usual disgusting meal in Sparta was black broth.

It probably tasted worse than green moths.

Their women were freer than most.

But they weren't allowed to boast.

They played a key role in defending Greece.

But they never wanted peace.

In the Middle-Ages the Greeks admired them most.

They probably feared them as if they were ghosts.

They believed they descended from Hercules.

They were definitely not scared of bees.

They conquered Messenia for their materials.

If it was a movie it'd be a hundred year serial.

By 800 BC they had a lot of land of Greece's.

But they still needed a few more pieces.

They put most of their culture into the art of war.

They were definitely not a bore.

The Gerousia was a council of elders.

They must have had a lot of weapon welders.

All Spartans had the same amount of money.

No matter what you say they sure weren't funny.

The Wise Athenians

By Michael 

Sources From: www.ancientgreece.com

In Athens boys started school at age six.

They didn't have pencils they used pointy sticks.

The boys finished school at age 18.

Their people didn't have any jeans.

The men were the ones who did the shopping.

They didn't have any rabbits hopping.

In 600 B.C. it would be ruled by land owning nobles.

These people were admired by all the locals.

They didn't have any running water.

So some people got hotter and hotter.

Almost every household had a slave.

The people didn't have normal names like Dave.

During Dionysus's festival men performed songs.

They drummed their drums and gonged their gongs.

They used strigils to get dirt off their body.

Sort of shaped like a stick for playing hockey.

It's polis was 2,500 square kilometers.

At night it was cold because they had no heaters.

They had the best known acropolis in Greece.

I don't think their houses had a lease.