Part of a gathering
But wandered far afield
The edge of deep woods
whispers low
It had always called her

Back to the meadow
or
Separate, she chooses

Disdain and anger her familiar friends
Hope and faith, new allies

Farther she ventures
Not one gives chase
to her pained heart

Cursing in a backwards glance
Then forewards
Forging a path by her own will
She builds conviction with each footfall

And slips ~ away

Spoiled Mom

I was such a spoiled mom yesterday!

Just as I was getting ready for work V called and we chatted a bit. She had an unexpected PT, so got shower time and a little bit of "free" time, though she was cleaning and getting things done while chattering. She chose to call mom. Happy me!

Her new phone's really decent on speaker phone so I don't protest as much as I might otherwise. What's the absolute worst is when she text messages while we talk... it sounds like I'm being bludgeoned in the ear with a bunch of carrots!! Ouch!

She's still waiting to have her PT evaluation. They need to do both female MMTs together. Unfortunately, her 'twin' is unable to do it yet because she slid into base during a Base Challenge baseball game, wearing shorts, and tore up the side of her leg with 'road rash'. (Badly enough that she was on crutches for a few days!) Some of it's scabbed over and healing just fine, but one area is infected. Oy! Until it happens, V takes every day as though it might be eval day, which I think is a healthy attitude. Better prepared than not, right?

She says that night shift is a rowdy bunch and they trashed the day shift's classroom this week just for kicks. She (day shift) was not amused. There's one guy in that shift/class that is a great student and she feels badly for him. The rest, in her words, are 'losers' as MMTs. Same ol' opinionated V, eh?!

I'm wondering, especially in light of the recent firings at the AF's highest level, how these less-than-stellar students will do at their future bases with the behaviour problems and 'barely passing' test scores they have. Sheesh, you'd think that the minimum passing grade would be higher than a 75 for this particular profession?! Makes me nervous thinking that the application of one wrong bolt by these knuckleheads and the world could be a very different place. shudder

On a brighter note: Speaking of test scores, (warning: insanely proud mom moment coming) V is #2 in her class as of this writing! Wahoo! 2 weeks and counting to get that hug I've been craving. :-D

On the home front I was really spoiled yesterday by Joshua!

Before I left for work he and I planned a BBQ menu for which he had to go to the store and buy marinade for the swordfish steaks he was defrosting. Soon after I left, off on his bike he went. He chose a delish Caribbean Jerk marinade, bought it... only to find that someone had "jacked" his bike while he was inside. (That's "stole" for those of you w/o teens). He walked home. :(

I'm getting this story after I got off work and checked my voicemails. What he had left of his bike (which he said he locked to itself through the frame and wheel) was the seat! I was so mad. He was upset too. I purposely stopped at the same store for milk and ventured a look-see around. I mean, who wants a bike without a seat?

There it was, no lock or seat post, behind the CVS on the other end of the strip mall. I brought it home. It needs a little bit of brake work and a replacement seat post ~and lock~ but otherwise it's ok and we're both relieved. Lesson learned, no harping required.

SO! In the midst of all of this, Joshua still manages to keep the cat from tasting the swordfish while it defrosted, marinate the steaks, prep the grill and bake brownies! I assembled a salad and made potatoes. Together we had made the most delicious dinner! What a great ending to an 'interesting' day.

In other mom news:

A couple of days ago I got a post-surgery call from the daughter of my gf (AF mom) Lolly in CA. Everything went a little better than expected and Lolly's already home resting, one day later. This particular daughter, like mine, is a friend and a gift to her mom in so many ways. L-A, you rock!

Big congrats to AF mom Deb whose daughter N just announced her engagement!

And my frend Michele is celebrating her daughter Macie's HS graduation this weekend. There's another mother/daughter team that rocks. V and Macie are friends and leading the way for Michele and I. Ok, we all rock.

Happy Friday the 13th!

Ah, da J Man!

Yesterday I was on call for a good chunk of the day but, lo and behold, did NOT get called in. Yeee haw! Instead, I got to spend the day with Joshua. Ok... a large portion of the day.

I tried to wake him starting just before 10am. I thought that was fair. Still 'sleeping in' for the first day of summer break, but up at a reasonable hour for a teenager, yes? At 10:40 he was out of bed and in the shower. By NOON he was dressed to turn in summer job applications, the car was loaded with a massive can/bottle return (.10/ea in MI) and we were ready to be out the door.

Cans/bottles done, errand to get Father's Day gift complete, job app turned in we headed out for lunch together.

J and I have a 'thing' for evaluating local burger joints and both of us had a yen to try the FUDDRUCKERS on Woodward Ave.. So North we went.

On the way we saw a lot of downed trees and Edison/ATT trucks repairing the power lines from our recent tornadoes. Whole swaths of large trees lay twisted and shattered like so many toothpicks on the ground and in the roadway. Caution tape stretched for 100s of yards.

But that all happened on Sunday. No prob, right? Reaching our destination (10 miles N out of our way) we saw a sign on the door.
CLOSED - NO POWER
So the burger evaluation* will have to wait. sigh
We went to Duggan's (closer to home) and T joined us.

After lunch there were two more quick stops to make and then home... to put together T's Father's Day gift and present it to him before he left (this morning) for AZ, to visit his dad.

Out in the schvitz (sweaty humidity) in the back yard, unbeknownst to T, J and I assembled his gift... A new hammock stand. We called T out to the yard and... I think he even stayed awake saying 'thank you' for a whole 10 minutes before falling into an hour long nap right there in his newly hung hammock! That was quite the thanks. I think he likes it. LoL

Meanwhile J planted 4 celosia and I got ready to go out with my gf Lorie. We had a wonderful visit, catching up on everything under the sun. The evening was cool and calm here so that was really nice too.

All in all it was a wonderful gift of a day with J and my gf.
Today I'm working and he'll be BBQing dinner. :)
Tomorrow I think we'll go see a matinee of KungFuPanda.

In between we're getting things ready for Avivah to come home.
Two weeks from today she will graduate Technical School and put on her A1C stripes. A day later, if all goes well, she should be HOME!!!

*Duggan's burgers are good, but not the best. Thusfar the best burger in the Metro Detroit area goes to CheeburgerCheeburger in Birmingham. And yes, J applied to work there. Job title? Connoisseur, of course! LoL

Not for the kiddies today!

Ok, it's your call...

but don't say I didn't warn you!!

Love this. It reminds me of the first dinner T and I made as a married couple... Lucky Charms; in the fine china bowls of course!

I know he's 16, but this one's for you J (my Seuss-aholic)

A fan of the musical "Cats"? You'll think this is cute...

This floats my boat...

These fashions are made entirely out of ~~~
CONDOMS!

I have my days...

If you "get this" pic and think it's darned funny:

a) You're an uber-D&D-geek

b) I think I love you

Lady on table = me

AND for those who need their daily dose of porn...

A CHICK IN BONDAGE

What is it? you ask...

Why it's a DILL-DOE!!!
~~~~~

HEY! I have successfully corrupted two children, so I have a proven track record here. And I DID warn you!

Happy Birthday Avivah!!

OK the pic's bizarre, but 19 years ago today our sweet V did just that...

In Flagstaff, AZ, after 27 hours of active labor and sometime after the Pistons won the third game of the playoff series (I remember John Sally fouled out between contractions)... she be borned! :)

And the world was a better place for it.

Even Mooch would agree (seeing it's probably near his birthday too!)

Today I send her a big...

and a HUGE

From me... her MoMmy!

***

Now Everyone,

Rush over to her blog and say:

Happy Birthday AVIVAH!

V Scenes

Countless times for countless hours having talks about everyone and anything under the sun, sharing laughs and tears and our heart's desires. Where?

Me on the computer chair and her on the floor. It's kind of her undeclared 'spot'. I'm looking at it now and thinking it needs special attention vacuuming, just for her, for us.

This pic that Lisa shared with me made me think of V in her spot. Thank you, Lisa.

Mother's Day.

I'm in Verizon dealing with her phone and contract because they can't do that at her store in CA. This is the phone that thought it was a cookie and dunked itself in milk, errr... a bucket of white paint.

So I'm telling her not to fret, that it'll be taken care of and in closing I asked her if there was anything else she needed. Her response? "You."

It was so unexpected that I thought I'd misheard. "What?"

"You, mom. I need you. Can you just put yourself in a box and mail you to me? Please?"

... and I'm bawling in front of the nice Verizon lady.

A text message a couple of days ago that said, "You made me cry. well, your blog did."

She'd read this all the way from the beginning up to yesterday and I think that, in context and scope, the amount that she's cherished by me came forward and was seen, clearly.

I'm not apologizing. Even on the difficult days, and heaven knows we've had a few, I am that much happier because she is my daughter.

Joshua. My incredible boy.

He's learning how to grill so that he can make great food and impress his sister when she comes home. So far? Incredible success!

My kids have been each other's best friend since the day he was born. I count my blessings and so does he. Every day. Both of us count V as much as I know she counts us.

Friday.

Skidding sidelong into the post office to get V's birthday gift in the mail on time for Monday, the 9th. Whew! Made it!

It's been a challenge to make it affordable, packagable and personal but I'm satisfied with what's in the box. (Shhh! She's reading so I can't tell you more!)

The box has a cute address label on it so the nice man asks if this is a present. "Yep! It's for my daughter's birthday."

"How old is she going to be?"

"19. It's her first birthday away from home so it really needs to be in her hands on the DAY."

"No problem, ma'am. She's still mamma's baby, yeah? Still mamma's baby."

"Yeah. Thanks."

... and I'm bawling in front of the nice post office man.

Yesterday's post.

V adds a comment that says I should add "awesomest mom ever" to my list. Awwww! Thank you, my love. Being your mom is not a job. It's always been my honor. Thank you back, for being my kid.

It's 2 weeks and 4 days from V's tech school graduation. Thoughts and plans are beginning to gel for potential leave and/or recruiter's assistance time at home. I know we're ready!

EPs

Prompted by a comment from DebinNC, who apparently has a long list herself, and to give you some idea who this purported "Jane of many trades" is [aka: moi]...

Here, for your viewing pleasure and amusement, in no particular order, is the list of jobs I have done:

• Floral designer
• Head Cashier
• Hebrew Tutor
• Child Care Aide
• Teacher's aide
• Preschool Director
• Parenting Class/Childcare Center Liaison
• Tour Guide (NY)
• Tour Manager (UK)
• Chaperone
• Retail Sales (toys, giftware, leather goods, luggage, clothing)
• Movie Theater Assistant/Manager
• Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Instructor
• Adult Ed Teacher
• Cantorial Soloist
• Administrative Assistant
• Student Advisor
• Archery Instructor
• Library Aide
• Substitute Teacher
• Grade-level Program Development
• Hebrew Teacher
• Board Member
• Network Coordinator/Board Liaison
• Mazkirut Member
• Newsletter & Graphic Publications Author/Designer
• Tupperware Consultant
• School Registrar
• Music Coordinator/Liaison

I'm not so much impressed as I am fairly certain that it doesn't add up to a hill o' beans other than experience points. We get those, right?

So... Who wants to hire me!?