Life at the Green house has been through a plethora of changes this year, so we’re sending this letter to catch you up to speed.
In February Elle (Eleanor) fell into a cool job and started a career after all these years of being a mom and working part-time. This threw the kids into a tizzy, but we have all adjusted. Jay is really proud of Elle saying he’s “always supported the idea of Elle having a career—she just never had!” Thanks to a combined effort we still manage to have home cooked meals; who knew Tony could make a mean batch of focaccia when motivated! There are always casualties when change occurs, so new recipes are finding it hard to get on the menu.
Elle loves the new career. She is assistant archivist at the Delta State University Archives and Museum, thus hanging on to the academic calendar since she is unable to function otherwise. Her favorite part of the job is creating new exhibits in the museum. If you have any ideas send them her way. Just remember that you have to find a way to relate them to the Mississippi Delta. Just in case you were thinking to yourself, what happened to grad school, don’t worry, Elle should graduate with a Master of Secondary Education in History degree when Tony graduates from high school in 2010.
The next big event was that Jay (John) went to China with the American Sociological Association. The trip included eleven sociologists from the US, Canada and Finland. They spent 14 days and toured historical sites, universities and met with Chinese sociologists. It was a great experience for Jay. Still reeling from his Eastern adventure, he was awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor! For non-academic readers, this is the holy grail of academicians. As defined by the Institute for Higher Learning (the big wigs who govern the state colleges and universities of Mississippi) tenure "serves the best interests of the faculty and the University by protecting faculty members from dismissal... tenure in universities provides protection that scholars require and serves society’s aspirations that scholars should have freedom of expression." Now he can continue being the radical that he is with a certain measure of safety!
Edye has grown about 6 inches and is well on her way to being taller than her mom (no surprise there). She is now in second grade at Hayes Cooper and joined Project PASS, the gifted program. It is really fun, and she gets to skip out of her regular classes every Friday to play chess and other stimulating activities. She is in her fourth year of piano lessons and joined the choir at her school too! Her favorite part of the new school year is getting to ride the bus, which her mama was nervous about, but Edye and Daddy claimed mama said she could ride it in 2nd grade. Supposedly this comment was made when Edye was 4! She says she loves to watch the scenery go by on the bus and Mama will admit that since her school is 12 miles away we sure have saved on gas! Edye spent her second year playing soccer for the Cleveland Park District and attended a soccer camp lead my Major League Soccer at Delta State University this summer! She would also like you to know that she tells Fozzie Bear jokes. I think you all know what this means for the rest of us!
By far the biggest change this year was that Tony moved out to live in a dorm in Columbus, Mississippi! He is attending the Mississippi School for Math and Science, a Mississippi public residential school for juniors and seniors located on the campus of Mississippi University for Women. He worked very hard to get there (273 kids applied—123 were welcomed into the junior class); and we are very proud of him. He sure is missed around the house, especially when we need focaccia. We still occasionally set the table for four and Elle still cries sporadically. He is not all alone as Columbus is only 20 minutes from his grandparents, aunts and uncles in Starkville which is mostly a good thing. He is having a good time over there, making good friends and learning to become one with his trigonometry and AP chemistry. In addition to math and science he’s taking Decade of Change-History of the 60’s, University English, US History-Architecture, Latin, Film and sitting in on band and theatre! He was able to continue running through the woods and made his best time yet at the state cross country meet running 3.2 miles in 21.01 minutes. Tony now holds the honor of having the longest hair in the family!
Tony’s new journey led to a fun experience for Elle and Jay. Parents in each region of the state are responsible for some event during the year at MSMS. The Delta parents host Winter Formal, so Elle and Jay got to chaperone the dance the first weekend in December. Tony looked so handsome and grown up in his suit until he jumped on Jay’s back for a picture, but hey, boys will be boys! His next adventure is a trip to Berlin and Prague for spring break with his history teacher and 23 other MSMS students! Yes, Mom is freaking out!
Hank the Cowdog remains head of house security and loved by all. He is getting a distinguished gray around the edges. He has accepted the fish that showed up in the carpool line with Edye one day (thanks for the head’s up teach!) as he feels no real competition from the fish. We are all impressed the fish is still alive. Her name is Ginger and she is a Gambusia fish, also called the mosquitofish.
For those of you trying to keep up, Jay and Elle will be married 15 wonderful years in August 2009! Tony will be 17 years old in February! Edye was eight years old on December 6th, Hank will be seven in August and the fish is about a year old!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Not Sure I'm Brave Enough
Somehow when your a parent you never really think about your children growing up. You just kind of think they will always be a constant.
Yesterday I did one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I moved my baby boy-who somehow managed to become 16 and a half into a dorm room three hours away from me.
I encouraged him to go to this place, I nugded him when he became unsure. Some may think that since I enabled it I don't get to be sad. But it sure hurts to look at his room and know he doesn't live there anymore.
I am very proud of him. He is attending the Mississippi School for Math and Science for his junior and senior year of high school. It is a Mississippi public school, the catch it is residential. He can come home on weekends, holidays and summers. This past year 273 high school sophmores applied and 123 got in, he was one of them which is very special.
MSMS will be a great place for Tony, the perfect place for a kid like him, but I it's taking all my effort not to go back there and bring him home. I gave up on holding back the tears-wasn't working anyway.
Yesterday I did one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I moved my baby boy-who somehow managed to become 16 and a half into a dorm room three hours away from me.
I encouraged him to go to this place, I nugded him when he became unsure. Some may think that since I enabled it I don't get to be sad. But it sure hurts to look at his room and know he doesn't live there anymore.
I am very proud of him. He is attending the Mississippi School for Math and Science for his junior and senior year of high school. It is a Mississippi public school, the catch it is residential. He can come home on weekends, holidays and summers. This past year 273 high school sophmores applied and 123 got in, he was one of them which is very special.
MSMS will be a great place for Tony, the perfect place for a kid like him, but I it's taking all my effort not to go back there and bring him home. I gave up on holding back the tears-wasn't working anyway.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Domestic Zoo Keeper at Large
I wrote this several years ago for a Mississippi Public Broadcasting Commentary. It was not choosen. Now thanks to the blogoshere I can subject ya'll to it anyway. It is a bit dated now as my "princess" is now in second grade and my "pre-teen" drama is now a young man headed into the 11th grade. Zoo keeper still unsure of her role and misses the days of stay-at-home bliss, but for some reason my children won't stay one age!
The Commentary:
People often ask me how I can be a stay at home mom; they generally say it would be so boring. The life of a domestic zoo keeper is anything but boring!
My son just started his first year of junior high and the pre-teen drama is at its peak-it’s like having your own private soap-opera—and yes junior high is just like you remember it! I would say more but at this moment he is turning off every radio within earshot due to the mortifying embarrassment. I definitely will not discuss the years of living in “Dinosaur World” that we endured-we’ll chalk that up to great material for the future writer that devourers more books than food!
On the other end of the spectrum there is my just turned four year old daughter-who generally refers to herself as a princess! There is never a dull moment in the daily world of Edye! I mean how many homes have a stuffed ladybug that is really a kitty named Tenderloin Radish?
In what world, besides that of a four year old could you hear the very true tale of Ralph the Mermaid Snake who has a twin who is a fish? Where else can you learn that things we accept as they are, seem arbitrary to the resident four year old. Like the time Edye was learning her colors and decided that we had just picked Green as our last name and began insisting that she was Edye Purple—she then decided if she could pick her last name why not her first as well and began insisting that her name was Rosie Purple and if you have met her you know that if I introduce her as Edye there is a loud rebuttal-invoking “Rosie—you are supposed to say Rosie!” We won’t even talk about the times she wishes to be called random things such as “Mr. Hammer Grandma”.
Edye has been known to read to any audience from her “Thomas Book”, a blank journal with no words on the page—this became a problem once when she said to my husband-oh, Daddy you read the next part—but luckily Daddy still has a fairly intact imagination!
What gets me through the day—the healthy imaginations that live in my house. How could I ever be bored I spend half my day in another world-a beautiful imaginary place and the other half living in high pre-teen drama! Next year Rosie Purple starts school and the pre-teen will have become a full-fledged teenager. Until then I will live my days in another world- Rosie Purple and high pre-teen drama-their world-and I will cherish every moment! The question is where exactly do I go next year when school begins? What becomes of the Domestic Zookeeper who has no animals?
The Commentary:
People often ask me how I can be a stay at home mom; they generally say it would be so boring. The life of a domestic zoo keeper is anything but boring!
My son just started his first year of junior high and the pre-teen drama is at its peak-it’s like having your own private soap-opera—and yes junior high is just like you remember it! I would say more but at this moment he is turning off every radio within earshot due to the mortifying embarrassment. I definitely will not discuss the years of living in “Dinosaur World” that we endured-we’ll chalk that up to great material for the future writer that devourers more books than food!
On the other end of the spectrum there is my just turned four year old daughter-who generally refers to herself as a princess! There is never a dull moment in the daily world of Edye! I mean how many homes have a stuffed ladybug that is really a kitty named Tenderloin Radish?
In what world, besides that of a four year old could you hear the very true tale of Ralph the Mermaid Snake who has a twin who is a fish? Where else can you learn that things we accept as they are, seem arbitrary to the resident four year old. Like the time Edye was learning her colors and decided that we had just picked Green as our last name and began insisting that she was Edye Purple—she then decided if she could pick her last name why not her first as well and began insisting that her name was Rosie Purple and if you have met her you know that if I introduce her as Edye there is a loud rebuttal-invoking “Rosie—you are supposed to say Rosie!” We won’t even talk about the times she wishes to be called random things such as “Mr. Hammer Grandma”.
Edye has been known to read to any audience from her “Thomas Book”, a blank journal with no words on the page—this became a problem once when she said to my husband-oh, Daddy you read the next part—but luckily Daddy still has a fairly intact imagination!
What gets me through the day—the healthy imaginations that live in my house. How could I ever be bored I spend half my day in another world-a beautiful imaginary place and the other half living in high pre-teen drama! Next year Rosie Purple starts school and the pre-teen will have become a full-fledged teenager. Until then I will live my days in another world- Rosie Purple and high pre-teen drama-their world-and I will cherish every moment! The question is where exactly do I go next year when school begins? What becomes of the Domestic Zookeeper who has no animals?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
MaMa vs. Mosquito! Skills You Learn in the Delta
At 3:23am this morning I was awakened by a gentle tapping on my arm.
Edye: "Mama, there is a mosquito in my room."
Me: "Let's go see about it"
So half asleep, bleary eyed and without my glasses I follow her to her room.
Me looking around: "Where did you last see it?" At this point I am thinking there is no way I am going to find this tiny mosquito after it has run off to hide-especially half asleep and without my glasses!
Edye: "In my bed, bugging me."
Me: "Why don't you climb back in bed and I'll "(stalling to come up with plan to convince her to sleep in her bed with said mosquito in room)
Then all of a sudden wham! bang! slam! I got 'em just above the bed!
Edye "Thanks mama, I can sleep now!"
Off I went stubble (still not awake) to wash my hands of the bug in question and rest my head until 6:30am feeling like a hero--at least to Edye!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Lake
Last Saturday we went to a friends lake house to say goodbye to Sarah as she heads to Chicago for a new adventure. In spite of the sadness of the occasion we had a great time!
Edye had never been in a lake before and while I wasn't real keen on getting in, I figured that wasn't really a good enough reason to deprive her of the experience. So in we went. She loved it, used her new swimming skills (in addition to the life vest) and was actually quite difficult to keep up with. She even jumped in from the deck at one point-saying it was great, but she did not think she'd do it again!
Evenually all the Greens were in the water and a good time was had by all. Someone brought a kayak and Edye and I took a spin around the lake together and then Tony and I went out together, but soon decided it might work better if Tony tried it solo. Jay also went out in the kayak and now all the Greens are seriously considering getting one of our own! Would have soooo easy with the wagon with the rack on top-I miss that car!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tenure -The Holy Grail of a Professors Life
For a professor tenure is a big deal! Holy grail might be a bit strong-there's always full-professor!
As defined by the Institute for Higher Learning (the big wigs who govern the state colleges of Mississippi) tenure "serves the best interests of the faculty and the University by protecting faculty members from dismissal... In our society we regard the acquisition of knowledge to be of paramount importance; and society, through enlightened self-interest, provides the University as a place for teaching and learning. Tenure in universities provides protection that scholars require and serves society’s aspirations that scholars should have freedom of expression."
So Jay (John) received tenure in June! Yippie! Now he can continue being the radical that he is with a certain measure of safety! He was also promoted to Associate Professor!
To mark the occasion, his wife (me) had an elaborate plan for a surprise party that amazingly everyone actually kept the secret and he claims to have been geniuely surprised to find out that Sarah's going away party was actually his tenure party!
We decided to view it as funny rather than a tragedy that the local bakery spelled tenure "tensure" and put a bad imitation of Cookie Monster rather than Jay's favorite muppet Grover on the cake! We even sang the tenure song-there was no speech-Dr. Green said now that he had tenure no speeches were required-Alkie chastised him for "pulling the tenure card already".
We had guests from far and wide (facilitated by Jolana's wedding the same weekend). Thanks to Katie and Jon for making time during your visit from DC and to Anna and Roger for driving in from Louisiana and convincing Jay's this was the only weekend for the carpet installation and of course the carpet! All the folks who drove in from around the Delta.
Many thanks to Cameron, Sarah, Amy, Emily, and Emily's Jay for the cooking. Thanks to everyone for keeping the secret!
As defined by the Institute for Higher Learning (the big wigs who govern the state colleges of Mississippi) tenure "serves the best interests of the faculty and the University by protecting faculty members from dismissal... In our society we regard the acquisition of knowledge to be of paramount importance; and society, through enlightened self-interest, provides the University as a place for teaching and learning. Tenure in universities provides protection that scholars require and serves society’s aspirations that scholars should have freedom of expression."
So Jay (John) received tenure in June! Yippie! Now he can continue being the radical that he is with a certain measure of safety! He was also promoted to Associate Professor!
To mark the occasion, his wife (me) had an elaborate plan for a surprise party that amazingly everyone actually kept the secret and he claims to have been geniuely surprised to find out that Sarah's going away party was actually his tenure party!
We decided to view it as funny rather than a tragedy that the local bakery spelled tenure "tensure" and put a bad imitation of Cookie Monster rather than Jay's favorite muppet Grover on the cake! We even sang the tenure song-there was no speech-Dr. Green said now that he had tenure no speeches were required-Alkie chastised him for "pulling the tenure card already".
We had guests from far and wide (facilitated by Jolana's wedding the same weekend). Thanks to Katie and Jon for making time during your visit from DC and to Anna and Roger for driving in from Louisiana and convincing Jay's this was the only weekend for the carpet installation and of course the carpet! All the folks who drove in from around the Delta.
Many thanks to Cameron, Sarah, Amy, Emily, and Emily's Jay for the cooking. Thanks to everyone for keeping the secret!
My Summer Vacation
The Green's headed back to Decatur last week in the new Focus! Our mission: clean out Judy's (Jay's mom) garage and remodel kitchen!
To start the trip off right we got bluff seat tickets to watch the Memphis Redbirds vs. New Orleans and spent the night in West Memphis. It was a great game the Redbirds won and relaxing on the lawn with my family was nice after a hectic week!
We arrived on Saturday, assesed the project, went to Lowes to gather supplies, the first of many trips to various hardware stores including Ace, Mt. Zion, Lowes and Menards, Forsyth and True Value, Decatur!
Sunday:
Judy and I took on the yard with mower and weed eaters while Jay started moving furniture and things out of the kitchen. The kids were off with other grandparents for the day!
Monday and Tuesday:
Judy and I with some help from Tony spent cleaned out the garage-we rented a dumpster and everything! Even item in that garage has now been discussed, tossed, donated or -if staying catergorized and placed in it's proper place! While I did not threaten my mother-in-law-we did discuss how to avoid accumulating stuff-just say NO!
Judy and the kids went to the library to replenish their book supply!
Jay again with some help from Tony began ripping out the old linoleum floor, this took for ever! By Tuesday night the floor was up and the primer was down and walls patched and ready to paint!
Wednesday:
Jay and I laid the new vinyl tile while the kids went to see Kung Fu Panda. Pugsly came to pick up his dumpster and Judy worked on various projects. Jay, the kids and I headed over to Keith & Jamie Brooksher's house for steaks and to catch-up since we had not seen each other for about 5 years! Jay went to high school with Keith.
Thursday:
Jay had the house to himself to paint the kitchen. Judy, the kids and I headed out on a daytrip to Indianapolis to have lunch with my best friend and Tony's godmother, Kelly.
Friday:
Little touch up in the kitchen paint, re-did a smaller table found in the garage to put in the kitchen to give Judy more space. Moved all furniture back in and celebrated the 4th with Krekel burgers! Yum! Watched the fireworks on the lake from the front yard! Went back to the hotel tired!
Saturday:
Judy met us for breakfast and we hit the road for the 10 hour trip home. We stopped for a picnic in southern Illinois for lunch and Memphis Pizza Cafe for dinner and made it home by 9:30pm!
What we learned:
While the shows may claim to do it in 48 hours I am very suspicious, maybe if we'd had a crew at our disposal-but we sure did get a lot done in one week!
You can cook anything in a hotel kitchette if you try hard enough-we had pasta with bolonese sauce, fajitas, and pasta with chicken and veggies!
The Hawthorne Suites in Decatur has great breakfasts, there was actually a real person cooking real eggs, potatoes, bacon, etc each day!
Now we need to start on a few projects at our house!
To start the trip off right we got bluff seat tickets to watch the Memphis Redbirds vs. New Orleans and spent the night in West Memphis. It was a great game the Redbirds won and relaxing on the lawn with my family was nice after a hectic week!
We arrived on Saturday, assesed the project, went to Lowes to gather supplies, the first of many trips to various hardware stores including Ace, Mt. Zion, Lowes and Menards, Forsyth and True Value, Decatur!
Sunday:
Judy and I took on the yard with mower and weed eaters while Jay started moving furniture and things out of the kitchen. The kids were off with other grandparents for the day!
Monday and Tuesday:
Judy and I with some help from Tony spent cleaned out the garage-we rented a dumpster and everything! Even item in that garage has now been discussed, tossed, donated or -if staying catergorized and placed in it's proper place! While I did not threaten my mother-in-law-we did discuss how to avoid accumulating stuff-just say NO!
Judy and the kids went to the library to replenish their book supply!
Jay again with some help from Tony began ripping out the old linoleum floor, this took for ever! By Tuesday night the floor was up and the primer was down and walls patched and ready to paint!
Wednesday:
Jay and I laid the new vinyl tile while the kids went to see Kung Fu Panda. Pugsly came to pick up his dumpster and Judy worked on various projects. Jay, the kids and I headed over to Keith & Jamie Brooksher's house for steaks and to catch-up since we had not seen each other for about 5 years! Jay went to high school with Keith.
Thursday:
Jay had the house to himself to paint the kitchen. Judy, the kids and I headed out on a daytrip to Indianapolis to have lunch with my best friend and Tony's godmother, Kelly.
Friday:
Little touch up in the kitchen paint, re-did a smaller table found in the garage to put in the kitchen to give Judy more space. Moved all furniture back in and celebrated the 4th with Krekel burgers! Yum! Watched the fireworks on the lake from the front yard! Went back to the hotel tired!
Saturday:
Judy met us for breakfast and we hit the road for the 10 hour trip home. We stopped for a picnic in southern Illinois for lunch and Memphis Pizza Cafe for dinner and made it home by 9:30pm!
What we learned:
While the shows may claim to do it in 48 hours I am very suspicious, maybe if we'd had a crew at our disposal-but we sure did get a lot done in one week!
You can cook anything in a hotel kitchette if you try hard enough-we had pasta with bolonese sauce, fajitas, and pasta with chicken and veggies!
The Hawthorne Suites in Decatur has great breakfasts, there was actually a real person cooking real eggs, potatoes, bacon, etc each day!
Now we need to start on a few projects at our house!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Shout Out To My Village
Hillary's right it does take a village to raise a child!
Last May Jay took a group of students from Delta State University and University of Michigan to Biloxi for research and mom went to Memphis for chemo. I had Edye and Tony on my own for a week. I realized how it really takes all three of us to raise my kids when I was on my own. I had to seek out other members of the village to get people where they needed to be-granted it might be easier if the kids were closer in age and had the same place to go!
I began to think about how over the years it has taken a number of family and friends to raise these kids. I want to shout out a thanks to them all.
Robert, Randall, Valerie, Peyton, Whitney, Stacey, Renee, Lisa, Tracy and Zach, Bryce and Jenny, David and Kendra, Donna, Sarah, Emily, Shari, Paul, Amy and Mark, Mom, Dad & Dixie, Beth, Brandy anyone who ever watched my kids or shuttled my kids out of love, family, friendship, carpool or coop-babysitting.
Last May Jay took a group of students from Delta State University and University of Michigan to Biloxi for research and mom went to Memphis for chemo. I had Edye and Tony on my own for a week. I realized how it really takes all three of us to raise my kids when I was on my own. I had to seek out other members of the village to get people where they needed to be-granted it might be easier if the kids were closer in age and had the same place to go!
I began to think about how over the years it has taken a number of family and friends to raise these kids. I want to shout out a thanks to them all.
Robert, Randall, Valerie, Peyton, Whitney, Stacey, Renee, Lisa, Tracy and Zach, Bryce and Jenny, David and Kendra, Donna, Sarah, Emily, Shari, Paul, Amy and Mark, Mom, Dad & Dixie, Beth, Brandy anyone who ever watched my kids or shuttled my kids out of love, family, friendship, carpool or coop-babysitting.
A special thanks to Tony while we have tried hard not to make him Edye's third parent (only one diaper change) since he's 9 years older. We recognize and thank him for the loving attention he gives to his sister, for walking her home from camp, for watching her when mom and dad are out walking, for knowing she is safe with you when we are at the honors banquet or some other DSU function. I don't have to worry when Edye's with him-what will we do when he moves out? Mom how is your schedule?
I am sure there are safe babysitters out there but no one compares to family and friends!
Thanks village!Friday, June 20, 2008
Speaking of Mom's-My favorite job!
I love being a mom and a wife, it gives me more pleasure than anything-even though I love my job, but if a had to make a choice today there would be not contest--hands down--mom--all the way!My husband really is my best friend and my son Tony at sixteen is also one of my close confidants, though he'll be the first to tell you that doesn't cloud my judgment when he's in trouble, just ask him about the hole in his wall (no mom this is not comparable to the one I put in the wall at 15!). Edye at seven keeps us all in giggles-and has almost from the moment she was born! Tony used to say that we had her to entertain the rest of us!
I recommend having your children almost 10 years apart, mine are very close, Edye kind of worships Tony and Tony is a great protector. Don't get me wrong they do fight and usually over something stupid, but they also play, read, and draw together! Sometimes there are challenges, Tony has play practice from 6-9, Jay is teaching from 6-9 and Edye goes to bed at 7:30pm-who is picking up Tony? But the benefits outway the complications!
Randon Thoughts on Cancer
We all know that many people who survive cancer take it as a sign to live life to the fullest! Some decide to take a trip they'd always meant to go on and some decide to spend more time with family.
How many do you think decide that it is high time they bought an embroidery machine? Well that's what my mother has decided to do! Don't get me wrong, buying something you've always wanted to do something you love is a great way to celebrate recovery!
I just didin't expect the statement that started with "I've learned some things from this experience and there is something to be said for not waiting to do the things you want to do"....to end in "so I'm buying and embroidery machine!"
So yippie for mom! and bring on the embroidery for one and all!
How many do you think decide that it is high time they bought an embroidery machine? Well that's what my mother has decided to do! Don't get me wrong, buying something you've always wanted to do something you love is a great way to celebrate recovery!
I just didin't expect the statement that started with "I've learned some things from this experience and there is something to be said for not waiting to do the things you want to do"....to end in "so I'm buying and embroidery machine!"
So yippie for mom! and bring on the embroidery for one and all!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Jay's 36 Hour Tuesday
Four planes and and 36 hours after beginning his Tuesday morning in Shanghai Jay finally made it to the Memphis airport! [Most of ya'll already know this still means a 2 hour drive home]!
I must say I was very glad to see him! There were several times throughout the day when delayed planes and tight connections led me to believe it might drag out until Wednesday. Luckily I had a hotel room in Memphis and I hung out there until his plane arrived almost two hours late at 11:58pm.
After a short night in Memphis we have made it home and he is doing his very best to stay awake until tonight to help with adjusting from the 13 hour time difference. [I put a certain 7 year old on the job.]
Monday, June 9, 2008
Thanks
As most of you know--I have never lived alone and I am not especially good at it. With Jay in China for 10 days and the kids in Indiana for 8 days--I was definately alone. Luckily I have some really great friends and family that took good care of me and watched out for me and a nice Louisville slugger to sleep with.
So thank you-
To Hank for all your watchdog duties-it helped me sleep at night.
To Sarah for all the walks and dinner at KC's
To Mom and Caroyln for dinner and everything
To Randall for calling at just the right time
To Emily for girl's night
To Kelly for encouragement (yes I realize that I should enjoy the quiteness)
To Amy, Lillian and Mabel for the walk
To Robert and Lisa for introducing me to skype allowing me to talk to Jay daily
To Dottie, Claude and the kids for knowing it is hard to let go and calling every night
To everyone else who called or sent an email and understood that it is hard even at my age-but as Edye's friend at the spend the said--I did it! (Not that I want to do it again any time soon)
Soon I head to the airport to pick up Jay. Edye is home with me and Tony stopped in for about 12 hours before heading to camp (.5 miles away but he might as well be in Texas)!
So thank you-
To Hank for all your watchdog duties-it helped me sleep at night.
To Sarah for all the walks and dinner at KC's
To Mom and Caroyln for dinner and everything
To Randall for calling at just the right time
To Emily for girl's night
To Kelly for encouragement (yes I realize that I should enjoy the quiteness)
To Amy, Lillian and Mabel for the walk
To Robert and Lisa for introducing me to skype allowing me to talk to Jay daily
To Dottie, Claude and the kids for knowing it is hard to let go and calling every night
To everyone else who called or sent an email and understood that it is hard even at my age-but as Edye's friend at the spend the said--I did it! (Not that I want to do it again any time soon)
Soon I head to the airport to pick up Jay. Edye is home with me and Tony stopped in for about 12 hours before heading to camp (.5 miles away but he might as well be in Texas)!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Soapbox: Seatbelts
I am sure that the other parents at my children's schools love their kids as much as I do! Which is why I am totally baffled by the lack of seatbelt use and the amazing number of children under the magic 4'9" number not in booster seats. There is even a police officer who drops off his kids, front seat with no belts! Hello! Have they not see the commercial about how fast objects (including people) move forward in a vehicle that suddenly stops!
It has never been a choice in our car and the kids have never questioned it. One block or 10 hours, we buckle up! Hell my son who is now 16 and driving was in a booster until the 5th grade and did not sit in the front seat until about 8th grade! My 7 year old wanted to be measured a few weeks ago, I told her she was 3'10". She said how many more til I'm 4'9"? She knows her magic number and looking out for the day she reaches it.
Just a few months ago we had two students killed in a car crash here. All four thrown and no one wearing a seatbelt. A few weeks later a similar accident on the same highway. The college president, college newspaper, local newspapers and the local tv news all had a lot to say about seatbelt use and it's importance. Yet, I drive around town and see Delta State students (recognizable by their parking pass) 4-5 to a car with no seatbelt on!
When will people learn-if you love someone tell them to buckle up and set the example-buckle your self up!
It has never been a choice in our car and the kids have never questioned it. One block or 10 hours, we buckle up! Hell my son who is now 16 and driving was in a booster until the 5th grade and did not sit in the front seat until about 8th grade! My 7 year old wanted to be measured a few weeks ago, I told her she was 3'10". She said how many more til I'm 4'9"? She knows her magic number and looking out for the day she reaches it.
Just a few months ago we had two students killed in a car crash here. All four thrown and no one wearing a seatbelt. A few weeks later a similar accident on the same highway. The college president, college newspaper, local newspapers and the local tv news all had a lot to say about seatbelt use and it's importance. Yet, I drive around town and see Delta State students (recognizable by their parking pass) 4-5 to a car with no seatbelt on!
When will people learn-if you love someone tell them to buckle up and set the example-buckle your self up!
Monday, June 2, 2008
The day my husband went to China
So Jay is in China! Check out his blog http://greensinternationaltravel.blogspot.com/ He went with a group through the American Sociological Association. He will be there 10 days site seeing and meeting Chinese academics and eating good food and according to his latest post coming up with new ideas for our backyard!
With luck all four of us will return to China in 2010! For now we live vicariously through Jay!
With luck all four of us will return to China in 2010! For now we live vicariously through Jay!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Greens Memorial Day
So at the last minute last week when we found out my sister in law was going home we decided to drive 10 hours home so we could see them! So we hit the road Friday May 23rd in our lovely bright green Focus intending to return to Mississippi by Monday night for cocktails with my mother! Slight glitch-the lovely green Focus decided that it liked Decatur, IL better than Mississippi and refused to leave. So two extra nights in a hotel and too many meals out we made it back to Mississippi in our.....brand new...2008 Silver Focus! We love the new car, which was on the horizon soon anyway--I miss my wagon of bright green--it had a lot of character, but the new one my seven year old describes as the "Green's Family Sports Car" and we got 40 miles to the gallon!
All is well that ends well!
All is well that ends well!
The Green's Green Focus Wagon unique and loved by one and all!
The Green's Gray Focus Sedan (since for some reason Ford does not feel a wagon is necessary anymore! Threee words --Hybrid Focus Wagon!) Growing on all of us!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tired!
The slumber party actually turned out well. Pizza was made, eaten and loved! They all enjoyed the movie I netflixed-Alvin and the Chipmunks-even the two who saw it at school that day. I will forever be amazed that my children watch non-educational movies at school! But that is another story and shall be told at another time.
I got the girls to bed by 10pm which was only an hour later than I'd planned. Had I then actually gone to sleep things might have been really rosy! However--I was waiting for the husband to call and the teenager to get home and reading a good book. Husband called--still no teenager--it was graduation night here and with friends graduating and parties to attend he showed up at 12:30am--don't worry he called earlier to check in--so he comes in and we talk about graduation, the party etc-forget sleep-I love that at sixteen my kid really talks to me about his life! I finally turned out the lights 1:30am--2:00am somebody wanted their mommy-easily taken care of and this morning she was so proud of herself she came into my room and shouted "I did it, I love sleepovers!" However my child instigated the --wake everyone up at 6:45am thing--amazingly the teenager sleep through all-although he locked his door-which turned out to be a good idea as "scare big brother and jump on big brother to wake him up" were on the list of activities his sister created.
Anyway here I am tired, waiting for the teenager to get home (he's on a date!) and the husband to call...wait I think I've been here before...BUT the important thing is tomorrow is Sunday and life returns to normal or as normal as it gets in this household!
I got the girls to bed by 10pm which was only an hour later than I'd planned. Had I then actually gone to sleep things might have been really rosy! However--I was waiting for the husband to call and the teenager to get home and reading a good book. Husband called--still no teenager--it was graduation night here and with friends graduating and parties to attend he showed up at 12:30am--don't worry he called earlier to check in--so he comes in and we talk about graduation, the party etc-forget sleep-I love that at sixteen my kid really talks to me about his life! I finally turned out the lights 1:30am--2:00am somebody wanted their mommy-easily taken care of and this morning she was so proud of herself she came into my room and shouted "I did it, I love sleepovers!" However my child instigated the --wake everyone up at 6:45am thing--amazingly the teenager sleep through all-although he locked his door-which turned out to be a good idea as "scare big brother and jump on big brother to wake him up" were on the list of activities his sister created.
Anyway here I am tired, waiting for the teenager to get home (he's on a date!) and the husband to call...wait I think I've been here before...BUT the important thing is tomorrow is Sunday and life returns to normal or as normal as it gets in this household!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Feeling Smug!
I am feeling rather smug this afternoon. In one lunch hour I:
1. Made pizza dough from flour yeast and things-it is slowly rising in the frig and we speak!
2. Made pizza sauce from tomatoes, garlic and other secret ingredients.
3. Made and ate a healthy lunch-whole wheat pasta, carrots, broccoli and baked chicken in an olive oil red pepper sauce!
4. Did the dishes!
5. Made it back to work with two minutes to spare!
Don't worry someone will knock me down from my pedestal soon-until then I will enjoy the view-I've always wanted to be tall!
Okay I confess-I did not actually sit down to eat the yummy lunch-gotta multitask!
1. Made pizza dough from flour yeast and things-it is slowly rising in the frig and we speak!
2. Made pizza sauce from tomatoes, garlic and other secret ingredients.
3. Made and ate a healthy lunch-whole wheat pasta, carrots, broccoli and baked chicken in an olive oil red pepper sauce!
4. Did the dishes!
5. Made it back to work with two minutes to spare!
Don't worry someone will knock me down from my pedestal soon-until then I will enjoy the view-I've always wanted to be tall!
Okay I confess-I did not actually sit down to eat the yummy lunch-gotta multitask!
Call it Insanity!
So at some point this week I went insane most likely from lack of adult companionship-Sunday can not come soooon enough! I realize that on some level my 16 year old can and does hold an adult conversation, however let's face it he's 16 and there are friends home from college to see, a girl and a movie and graduations to attend etc etc...
In my insanity I have agreed that my seven year old can have not one, not two, but three other girls over for a slumber party-did I mention this is our first-I am thinking we should have started smaller. My husband says better you than me and hopes there is no evidence when he returns. At some point I should tell him about the hole the other child put in the wall...he will learn to patch this weekend!
My daughter has written out a schedule of what they will do this evening-which included "set alarm for 12:00am"-luckily I was advised of said schedule and that activity has been deleted from the list! If we actually stuck to the schedule things would probably go smoothly-but I can't image that actually happening!
So now you ask, what am I doing on my lunch break today? If you said making pizza sauce, dough etc to prepare for this adventure you when the prize! Then back to work, then carpool, then work, then home to wait for chaos to ensue.
In my insanity I have agreed that my seven year old can have not one, not two, but three other girls over for a slumber party-did I mention this is our first-I am thinking we should have started smaller. My husband says better you than me and hopes there is no evidence when he returns. At some point I should tell him about the hole the other child put in the wall...he will learn to patch this weekend!
My daughter has written out a schedule of what they will do this evening-which included "set alarm for 12:00am"-luckily I was advised of said schedule and that activity has been deleted from the list! If we actually stuck to the schedule things would probably go smoothly-but I can't image that actually happening!
So now you ask, what am I doing on my lunch break today? If you said making pizza sauce, dough etc to prepare for this adventure you when the prize! Then back to work, then carpool, then work, then home to wait for chaos to ensue.
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