M.A.W.B. Squad

Vocalist Lane

They have a thing in these parts called Honors Choir.  They pick 6-8 choir members each from about 8 high schools and get them together for one day under a guest director, ending with a concert in the evening. The Girl was chosen as one of two sopranos from her school.

I was at home, deep in discussion with the Boy, with me warning about the black helipcopters of Warcraft spyware, while he pondered the effect of two black holes colliding, and theorized that Steven Hawking's physical disability is actually an advantage because he only has to concentrate on thinking.  Alas, the conversation had to be abandoned so I could make the concert.

The host school was the southernmost of those participating, a drive of about an hour.  Lo and behold, after I took my seat in the auditorium, I realize my neighbor is two rows in front of me, and his neighbor is right across the aisle.  We could have car pooled!  Our house is midway between three small towns, leading to the oddity that we all have daughters who are Juniors or Seniors in high school, and they go to three different schools.  All three girls were chosen to participate in Honors Choir for their school.  How weird is that?  We must grow good singers on this stretch of road, (hence the title of this post.)

The concert was a rousing success, filled with baby Jesus', Glorious in Excelsious, and Hallelujah's bouncing off the walls all over the place, and no ACLU spoilsports in sight.  We country folk are subversive in that way.

The Boy That I Love

It's easy when you have two kids, one of each sex.  Everyone gets to be the favorite.  In our family, they bear their gender titles, followed by "That I Love."  Hence the title of this post.  My favorite Boy moments from yesterday:

On the flu shot controversy, "You guys are lucky.  I decide what I'm (not) going to do, then the logical part of me kicks in." The first sign of consent to the needle.

"I was thinking on the way down here that it's a miracle that there aren't more car accidents.  It's the chaos theory (in action.)"  I've often thought the very same thing.  Imagine if you looked at all those vehicles, with all those origins and destinations from space.  Mind boggling that we don't kill each other more often.

How to Tell Your Teenager is Healthy

The Boy went to the doctor on Thursday and came home lugging an oxygen tank.  That'll get your attention.

It started in the field on a 4 wheeler ride.  He had an encounter with the neighbor's horses.  One of them got in his face.  His face lost the battle and came home looking like a over-ripe tomato.

When the coughing started, it was obvious Benadryl wasn't going to win the war.  Allergy induced asthma.  It runs in the family.  The Christmas tree made me sick every year before my folks figured it out.  After that, it was plastic all the way and no more Sickmas for me.

It's been forever since one of the kids has had an asthma problem.  We thought they'd outgrown it, (which is not uncommon.)  Apparently not when it comes to horses.

We're back to the doctor today for a follow up.  I'm sure he's good to go without oxygen again.  He's trying to come up with a right to refuse medical treatment over the flu shot I insist he now must endure.  Defiance.  Parents learn to love and embrace every sign of health after a crisis.

Sleep Number Bed?

Does anyone out there have one of those Sleep Number Beds by Select Comfort?  I ask because we've been considering buying one, and I'm looking for some feedback.  If you've got one, did you go with the adjustable bed option, (you can raise and lower the head and feet and it has a massage feature)?

We stopped by one of those mall stores.  Maybe it's just me, but for some reason I couldn't really get a feel for the thing while laying in the fish bowl of a mall window, on display for every Sally and Joe walking by.  Add to that the salesman following you around, you know, selling, while you try them out.  "Well, we just go through these steps at the different beds to find out your number.  It should only take 20 minutes."  Sorry, but No We Won't.  I'm sure salesmen would really appreciate it if the whole family would just wear warning signs, "Caution. Approach carefully. Prone to general crankiness. Known to respond to salesmen in a negative fashion."

Anyway, you can return the matress if you decide it's not for you, but they only take return of the adjustable frame if it's defective.  So, if anyone has some insight, leave it in the comments or e-mail me.

DC_brainstorming AT hotmail.com

Gee, I Look Foolish: Don't Do This

You know how it is when you're late for a meeting?  Then, all during your long drive the people in front of you in the left lane just won't get out of your way?  When you finally get an opening, you're ready to just kick it down and leave everyone in the dust?

So, yeah, that happened to me yesterday.  I took the opportunity to pass the last car in front of me by going around them in the right lane.  I was headed towards 80 in a 65.

Then he flashed his pretty red and blue lights at me in his back window.

Oops!  Why hello officer! (I swear those plates didn't say tax exempt on them.)

Apparently it was my day to be blessed.  He didn't stop me. 

Now I'm asking myself if I maybe should have bought a lottery ticket.

Threatening and Raising The Boy

Recently he was cautioned, "Behave yourself, or I'll hug you in public."

Teenagers are soooo easy when you know which buttons to push.

He owes me now.  Part bribe, part birthday present, we designed a new custom skateboard at warehouseskateboards.com. Of course, I'm now subject to, "Did you get a shipping notice yet?" every few hours. (The most recent installment included a friend "raging" due to lack of said shipping notice.)

The bribe portion was an agreement between me and he that a helmet would be worn at all times.  (I know you city parents have bonded together to enforce safety precautions like these.  Rural me, though, dwells in the wild west, where parents you don't know, and don't have phone numbers for, will drop their kids in your driveway leaving a trail of dust without a backwards glance.)  Not one of his many skateboarding friends wears one.  (These are kids whose parents have built them ramps at home, but obviously don't fear brain injury.  Maybe they've performed some voodoo ritual designed to ward off falling from rolling wheels while hoping to perfect X Games tricks?)

On Friday, they took their boards to school to ride while the rest of the class went swimming.  (All hail education!)  Their plans went south when a teacher began to confiscate boards of those who didn't have helmets. Vindicated!  Yep. Mine was the only one in the bunch who had a helmet. Sweet!

Parents, you simply must use every tool at your disposal.

(I should add though, that the teacher's logic was they only had one helmet and therefore only needed one board.  The Boy countered with the fact that each board is set up uniquely for the owner, therefore they each rider should be able to keep the board they were used to riding, and ride one at a time with the helmet.  He did win that round.)

On another note, the PiC and the Boy returned from the store today with two gallons of bleach: one for cleaning, the second for bleaching the skulls of dead things.  Which is fine.  Except last time I discovered the skulls were being bleached in his bedroom.  Wrong answer.  Skull bleaching has now been designated as an activity that takes place outside the house proper.

Complications and A Day of Prayer

I'd love to be posting more, but, for now, life's complications are keeping me away from the blog.

Put in perspective, compared to the ongoing struggle after Katrina, and the challenges faced by those around me, my problems are mere temporary annoyances. So, I won't bore you with the details.

I did want you to know though, that regular posting will resume as soon as possible.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has called for a Day of Prayer:  (I'm giving the text in full.)

Governor Kathleen Blanco: "As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort.      I have declared August 31, 2005, a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.  I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild.     Please pray for patience for those anxiously waiting to hear from family members or to get word about their homes. Pray for the safety of our hard-working rescuers and those they are bringing to safety.     I know, by praying together on Wednesday, that we can pull together and draw strength we need; strength, that only God can give us.     In my prayers, I will also thank God for the strong and resilient people of this state and how they are working to meet this challenge."

We see the images on TV, families ripped apart, homes destroyed, so many jobs lost.  The problems are enormous.  What can we do to help?  Yet all of us can say a simple prayer. 

Thousands need shelter and food.  The Salvation Army is already there serving meals and passing out supplies.  If you can, please stop by and donate to their efforts.

 

Hey - come back here!

I agree with what Sandy said last week, I can't believe summer is almost over! : ( 

Why does it seem as if the summers are so short and the winters are so long? It's not fair! Here are the things I like about summer, and a few things that I don't like:

 

The good things:

1. Lemonade stands - one day I made $15! 
2. Swimming - I like to swim under water, just barely above the bottom of the pool.
3. The State Fair - but don't eat until after you've gone on the rides!
4. Shorts and T-shirts - do I really have to explain this?
5. Flip-flops - see above. 
6. Bare Feet!
7. Roller Blading - too bad you can't do it barefooted!
8. It's hot out - which means...shorts and t-shirts, again!
9. Playing in the rain!
10. Grilling hamburgers - actually, eating hamburgers!
11. Having fun!

The not-so-good things:

1. Mosquitoes - ugh!
2. Ticks - nasty, blood-sucking things - ick!
3. Scabs - gross!
4. Sunburn - ouch!
5. It's too short!

Summer is great! At least we have something to look forward to in the winter after Christmas. Time for me to go have more fun, so ciao for now!

I Need a Ruling

Would you say that pants like these are suitable to wear in public when on vacation, or are they the equivalent of running around in sweats?

More Toilet Blogging

Is it just me, or does this just seem wrong? (via Metafilter)