Beth has been driving herself, Cory and Cristina to the Fair every day for work. This kind of makes me nervous because she's driving on the Interstate, in traffic - toward Milwaukee, etc. etc. I mean, she's driving in places I don't like to drive. Sure, I can drive there if I have to. I just don't want to. So it makes me nervous to have my 16-year-old daughter driving. She's a good driver overall, but still... I let her drive yesterday when we went over to the school, and she does play with the radio quite a bit, changing stations and such. I just want her to pay attention!
Anyway, she is supposed to call me when they get there every day so that I know they're safe. I also like her to call before they head home, but she doesn't always do that. She has been doing a real good job of calling me when they get there. Every day. Until today. What changed? I finally called her a few minutes ago - she didn't offer any explanation. Just said that she's working and can't talk.
Just when I think she's got it figured out and knows what's expected of her...
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Drivers Ed.
Like I mentioned before, Cory had to take drivers ed during summer school. He finished the classroom portion of the class in 4 weeks, got a B+ and a quarter credit. It kind of messed his summer up because he was wanting to go visit his grandparents, but what can you do?
Now we're planning to have him take the driving portion of the class next summer. Hopefully he will remember most of what he learned this summer! He only turned 15 last month, so he can't get his driving permit (temps) until January at the earliest. If we wanted to sign him up for a driving school at that time we could. If we can find a local school like Labonte's Auto School in MA and RI, that would be good. They offer one-week programs and very flexible evening and weekend classes.
Of course, if Cory doesn't end up having a need to drive sooner, we can wait and let him take the driving instruction next summer through our school district. If it's the same as it has been the past two summers, it won't cost us anything. We really do have a great deal in our school district when it comes to drivers ed.
Now we're planning to have him take the driving portion of the class next summer. Hopefully he will remember most of what he learned this summer! He only turned 15 last month, so he can't get his driving permit (temps) until January at the earliest. If we wanted to sign him up for a driving school at that time we could. If we can find a local school like Labonte's Auto School in MA and RI, that would be good. They offer one-week programs and very flexible evening and weekend classes.
Of course, if Cory doesn't end up having a need to drive sooner, we can wait and let him take the driving instruction next summer through our school district. If it's the same as it has been the past two summers, it won't cost us anything. We really do have a great deal in our school district when it comes to drivers ed.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Bourne Rich: I Guess we Helped a Little
While the kids were working yesterday, Jeffrey and I went to the mall, had lunch, and saw a movie. We went to see The Bourne Ultimatum and really enjoyed it. Looking at the ticket sales, I'd say a whole lot of other people enjoyed it too! Now I'm ready to read the books over again and watch the first two movies over again. Too bad I have too much 'mom stuff' to do.
$70M "Biggest First Weekend ever for a Movie in August" The latest "Bourne" total also far exceeded the debut ticket sales generated by the first two films in the franchise.
read more | digg story
$70M "Biggest First Weekend ever for a Movie in August" The latest "Bourne" total also far exceeded the debut ticket sales generated by the first two films in the franchise.
read more | digg story
$216 Later
I took the kids over to get them registered for school. What that consists of is signing a bunch of papers and then writing a big check. It seems to cost more every year to get these kids signed up for school. Of course, when I hear the cost of sending a kid to college, I know we have it good for now. We keep telling Cory that he better get good grades and get some scholarships because we cannot afford to pay for college. Who can? Between scholarships and student loans, hopefully the boy can get a good education. I'd say the girl, too, but she says she's not going to college - not even technical school. Give her a few years. Maybe she'll change her mind.
What really bugs me about the school registration thing is that they don't give me any kind of idea ahead of time what it is going to cost me to register my kids. Yes, I suppose I could look up last year's cost to get a ball park figure, but would it really hurt the school to at least tell me that the basic fee for the year is $60 or something, and then, depending on the classes they are taking, other fees will be added? No, it's always a big surprise. I go up to the office. She adds everything up, and gives me the grand total. I write the check. Do I really have a choice? I never thought so until last year when I heard there were several people who hadn't paid their school fees yet. (I only knew that because there is a $20 cleaning fee for band uniforms, and we were waiting to get that money for some of the band members.) Well, choice or not - I always pay up - so we're good for now, but you know there will be plenty more money going to the school over the course of the school year. If it's not one thing, it 's another.
Also, Cory got his schedule changed so that he's in Jazz Band. He thought he signed up for it, but it didn't show up on his schedule - same as last year. The kids have the same study hall first semester so they were talking about getting that changed, but they couldn't decide who should change. So they'll both be in the same study hall, and they will be ok.
We stopped on the way back so Beth could pick up her paycheck, and we went in so we could see where she works and met her boss. Then we stopped at the bank so she could deposit her check and so Cory could cash his birthday check. Now they're gone - headed to work, and I need to get busy washing dishes and working on laundry and all kinds of fun stuff.
What really bugs me about the school registration thing is that they don't give me any kind of idea ahead of time what it is going to cost me to register my kids. Yes, I suppose I could look up last year's cost to get a ball park figure, but would it really hurt the school to at least tell me that the basic fee for the year is $60 or something, and then, depending on the classes they are taking, other fees will be added? No, it's always a big surprise. I go up to the office. She adds everything up, and gives me the grand total. I write the check. Do I really have a choice? I never thought so until last year when I heard there were several people who hadn't paid their school fees yet. (I only knew that because there is a $20 cleaning fee for band uniforms, and we were waiting to get that money for some of the band members.) Well, choice or not - I always pay up - so we're good for now, but you know there will be plenty more money going to the school over the course of the school year. If it's not one thing, it 's another.
Also, Cory got his schedule changed so that he's in Jazz Band. He thought he signed up for it, but it didn't show up on his schedule - same as last year. The kids have the same study hall first semester so they were talking about getting that changed, but they couldn't decide who should change. So they'll both be in the same study hall, and they will be ok.
We stopped on the way back so Beth could pick up her paycheck, and we went in so we could see where she works and met her boss. Then we stopped at the bank so she could deposit her check and so Cory could cash his birthday check. Now they're gone - headed to work, and I need to get busy washing dishes and working on laundry and all kinds of fun stuff.
Mom is a Person, too
I just had to quote this from one of my friends on LiveJournal:
That's sound pretty pathetic, doesn't it? Truly, I don't feel that way. I love being Beth & Cory's mom, and I'll always be their mom, but that really isn't all there is to me. I think it is very important for moms to take time for themselves. Sometimes you just have to.
For now my time is over. I need to get the kids up and get going. We have to go get them registered for school today before they have to leave for work. Beth wants to pick up her paycheck and stop by the bank, too.
If you ever want to make a mother (or a father) with young children feel loved chat with them while they are watching their children. Yes, sometimes it is a pain and it seems like you never finish a conversation with them because of all the interruptions but the mother or father will feel loved. Really they will.So true! It seems that you are a person in your own right, until you have kids. Then suddenly you become somebody's mom or somebody's dad. No one actually notices you any more. It's all about the kids. You've noticed that about me, right? I'm Beth & Cory's mom. That's just who I am. Now they're teenagers, and soon they'll be out of the house. Then who will I be?
That's sound pretty pathetic, doesn't it? Truly, I don't feel that way. I love being Beth & Cory's mom, and I'll always be their mom, but that really isn't all there is to me. I think it is very important for moms to take time for themselves. Sometimes you just have to.
For now my time is over. I need to get the kids up and get going. We have to go get them registered for school today before they have to leave for work. Beth wants to pick up her paycheck and stop by the bank, too.
StarCraft for PC
I was reading an article in Newsweek about Lego and how, after a certain age, girls aren't really interested any more. The boys? They love it. As I'm reading about this upcoming PC game starcraft 2, I'm thinking the same thing is true. Do the girls really want to play this, or is it just the boys? I know, I shouldn't generalize, but this kind of game looks like something the boys in the house would enjoy, but us girls probably won't even understand it!The thing that interests me about all the video games my son plays is the way that he can go online and get hints and tips and 'cheats' in order to make it through the game. I keep asking isn't that cheating? The word 'cheats' kind of makes me think so. He doesn't seem to think it's cheating, just help to get through the game and reach levels and do things he wouldn't get to for a long time without help. Over at CreepColony, they have the same thing for the StarCraft game. What I can't find over there is what I need to know as a mom. What is this game rated? Is it something my 15-year-old son should be playing?
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Sore Feet
The kids came home from work a little early this evening. They weren't real happy because their schedule has changed, and they will be losing about 5 hours that they had planned to work. It is a little frustrating since they were counting on making that money, but they're still working a lot of hours. I think they have more hours during the fair than anyone else has.
They've survived 3 days of work so far. They are long, hard days with lots of standing on a very hard concrete floor. Besides that, the parking situation hasn't been the best. They already have to pay for the gas they are using to get back and forth to work - split 3 ways, so it's not too bad, but they don't want to pay for parking. When we go to the fair, we usually park somewhere on the street in the area. Beth has been having so much trouble finding a spot anywhere near the fairgrounds, so the kids have had to walk quite a ways from and to the car every day.
Needless to say, they have some sore legs and feet. But they're young. They'll survive. Unfortunately, this job will be over with before their feet get used to all the abuse. When I was in college, I worked in the kitchen - part time during the school year and then full time during the summer. I remember how my feet ached, especially my heels, the first week of full time work in the summer. By the second week, my feet had adjusted, and it didn't bother me so much. By the second week for these kids, the fair will be over - so no time for their feet to adjust.
Plenty of time for them to recover after the fair is over.
They've survived 3 days of work so far. They are long, hard days with lots of standing on a very hard concrete floor. Besides that, the parking situation hasn't been the best. They already have to pay for the gas they are using to get back and forth to work - split 3 ways, so it's not too bad, but they don't want to pay for parking. When we go to the fair, we usually park somewhere on the street in the area. Beth has been having so much trouble finding a spot anywhere near the fairgrounds, so the kids have had to walk quite a ways from and to the car every day.
Needless to say, they have some sore legs and feet. But they're young. They'll survive. Unfortunately, this job will be over with before their feet get used to all the abuse. When I was in college, I worked in the kitchen - part time during the school year and then full time during the summer. I remember how my feet ached, especially my heels, the first week of full time work in the summer. By the second week, my feet had adjusted, and it didn't bother me so much. By the second week for these kids, the fair will be over - so no time for their feet to adjust.
Plenty of time for them to recover after the fair is over.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Mom Knows Everything
Well, of course she does! If only we could convince the kids of that. Now. Before they're all grown up and out of the house. When I found a blog called Mom Knows Everything I just had to visit! How could I not? Maybe this mom knows something I don't. Face it. Lot's of moms know stuff I don't. No, wait. Forget I said that, and definitely don't let my kids know. In the meantime, I'll be reading Tammy's blog and smiling as she describes getting ready for her camping trip and tells this adorable story of eating ice cream at 1:30am with her 2-1/2 year old. Doesn't that make you just want to melt?
Ashwin's blog EXtravaGANza!
Who doesn't love contests? Ashwin is giving away $2500. Now, that's a contest! Just post this to your blog for a chance to win:
So, what are you waiting for? You could win $2500!
Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!
So, what are you waiting for? You could win $2500!
Check it Out
My post over on Blog Carnivals. I think it's a neat idea - finding good posts from around the blogosphere and bringing them together. I might even try it one of these days - but they're already doing it over there. So, if you're looking for some good reads...
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