Thursday, August 29, 2013

books

I saw a post on my Facebook newsfeed yesterday that Starz and Sony are bringing Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series to television and they've committed to a 16 episode first season. Yeah! Of course I went to IMDB to check out the casting so far, and while they haven't posted who will be playing Claire Fraser, they have posted a photo of the actor playing Jamie. Very exciting. I approve. Here is the link: http://www.dianagabaldon.com/ to the author's page and it has photos and comments about the production.

Speaking of books, added a new one to my "finished" list for 2013. This was written by a team under the name Sam Cabot. Basic premise is that the Vatican has a secret deal with the world's vampires and in fact Mary Magdalene was a vamp responsible for her brother Lazarus' coming back from the dead as well as Jesus' resurrection. The book jacket promised a combination of Dan Brown and (cringe) Stephenie Meyer and it more or less delivered. Cabot is a better writer than Meyer and these vampires don't sparkle.  It was a solid read, it entertained me, but it didn't blow my socks off. I'd read a sequel to see if the plot reveals just where Mary and Jesus are hanging out these days.

I have two other books to read in short order as I picked them from the new rack and only have a week left on one of them. Better get busy this weekend.

In other news, hubby's business trip allowed him to enjoy dinner and then breakfast with the oldest. While I am still totally jealous he got to visit with her, he said she is most definitely in full college student mode and was quite proud of herself and how the semester is starting off. Best thing so far, she is working on the research project now with engines and while she was covered in oil and grease, she didn't break a nail...yet!

She is headed one state over to see her football team smash errrr play...their first game in one of those big Dome stadiums. She and her buddy will be staying with that young lady's family while away for the weekend.

The other one is getting a visitor for the weekend as the summer romance boy is heading up there to see her. Hmmmm. Very interesting.

Hubby has a big order to fill as he is taking the boy shopping for a suit this weekend. Speech & Debate tournament attire requires a suit. Lovely. The tailoring bill will probably match the suit cost.

Off I go...I've rambled enough and seem to have made up for my lack of words yesterday. Yippee, it is Thursday...Friday Eve!!


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

stuff

I don't have any stuff to share this morning! Drawing a major blank. So.....Have a good Wednesday!!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

starry sky

Dukie has already retrieved the paper. The early morning sky is clear and the stars are shining bright today. Not too humid so far. Fairly cool air right now. Hard to believe that by Friday we will be nearing 100 for our highs.

Those temps will be a bit out of our normal. It has really been a mild summer. Not a scorcher. Yet. I read with interest the Farmer's Almanac prediction for this winter. Guess it might be a colder than normal winter. More snow is predicted too. Last winter was very mild.

And what does all this have to do with anything? Well, I was dreaming about snow boots. We never bought the middle daughter snow boots and she might just need some this year. She has some lovely riding boots that she wears with everything from dresses, to skirts, to jeans, to leggings. But, they are by no means weather proof and she will slip and slide all over the place in them if the weather turns icy/snowy. Hmmm. Need to take a tour of the LL Bean website, Zappos, and such to see what can be found.

Thank goodness we bought her a 3 in 1 North Face last year on sale. Got that part covered!

Tuesday!! Making weekend plans already. Yeah!

Monday, August 26, 2013

looking forward to next Monday

Next Monday is Labor Day! Whoopieeeee!! I'm in need of a three day weekend in a big way. If I had extra PTO, I'd be tempted to make that weekend a four day event and take Friday off.

But, I'm hoarding those days for emergencies, illness, and football. lol

Bid Day is now behind all of us. As one of my soccer mom friends said, "Thank God we don't ever have to do that again." It ranks right up there with waiting for the team roster to be posted after tryouts. Dreadful. The girls from the Ville all did well. Three of them will pledge DZ, one is a Phi Mu, and our darling daughter is now a Kappa Kappa Gamma. Which, coincidentally, is the same house her boss was in back in the 80's. That lady told the hubby that she did everything but put sparkles on the rec she wrote. When she learned that Kappas were the 'winner' of our darling daughter, she was so excited she was almost hyperventilating (according her her husband who had ordered her a Bloody Mary to try and settle her nerves as she was pacing the floor until we got the text telling us the contents of the bid day envelope.) She told hubby that our daughter is just perfect...well, of course she is! lol I can see lots of Kappa stuff being mailed to college for her from this lady.

It is all a hoot and a half. One of the older daughter's former soccer teammates from club season is also a Kappa, so that is a nice connection to have.

The pics I've seen on instagram and twitter show a very happy young lady, so I think it is all good.

Now they can get back to the real reason they are off at college and hit the books, studies, computers etc.

Off into Monday I go. It should be a fast week as I'm intending on loading info into the CMS for the new website. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Happy Monda:. Owls. Keys. And Fleur de Lis!!  Cheers to our Kappa Girl!! xoxo

Thursday, August 22, 2013

new routines, habits, and events

Hubby came home with a good idea last night. We are going to try and establish a movie & a dinner night with the boy. So, once a week, we will take turns picking a movie and picking a 'carry-in' dinner item. No cooking for Mom! Whoop!!

The boy would be happy watching the Science network or Big Bang Theory all night long. The hubby is all about sports, and I of course look for vampires, werewolves, fairies, or historical dramas. So...this will be a grand compromise.

We have yet to pick the night, but we are thinking Wednesday. Seems like that night is a lighter homework night due to so many of the teachers and students go to church on Wednesdays.

The girls had great first days of school. The Harry Potter class was nothing short of FANTASTIC for the middle kid. She loved it. The oldest told me that her courses will kick her butt, but she has tons of great friends in them and everything will be okay as she is ready to kick some butt! lol

Sorority recruitment was on hiatus last night at the middle daughter's school and will resume this evening. The oldest daughter's sorority has their first 'swap' tonight, so she will be guiding the freshman to that event at one of the fraternities.

Yep, it is Thursday already. The week went fast.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

big shoes to fill

The boy has only one teacher who does not know the girls. This is a common situation in our town for many students who have siblings. His geometry teacher has 12 students in his 5th hour class with older siblings who this man taught at some point. By the way, I'm tickled pink that he has this geometry teacher as he is an excellent math teacher and hilarious to boot.

The 'odd man' out is the new Latin teacher. Interesting fellow, a native of the UK, he went to school in Colorado for his undergrad and did one master's degree at Minnesota and one at.....Notre Dame. Yep, so we got to talk about South Bend a bit and the boy had already informed him that was where he was born.

The evening went well. Got to see a lot of friends in the hallways. The teachers are focusing on teaching and trying to keep the merger business/problems away from them. A common question was about PowerSchool. It has typically not been available until after Labor Day, but the common thought is that it might not ever make it back up. Rumors are flying about just what type of online grading portal will be available.

We had fun. The boy has some big shoes to fill as his sisters cut a wide path through that high school and were very well known.

Today is Wednesday! Yeah!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

open house

Tonight is the open house at the high school. We start in home room and then move through his day. They are also having the club fair and a meeting for the new Honors Academy/Emerging Leaders program. Busy night.

We always attend the open house when they are freshman. It had been hit or miss after that with the girls because we always had a soccer match to attend. With the boy, we will most likely make it all four years. We also have his first speech and debate meeting this week. That is on Thursday.

So, with all of these events, I came home from work and did more work! Laundry, cooking, cleaning etc so that when the weekend does arrive, we can do things other than household chores.

I heard from both girls yesterday. The new college girl had 5 houses to visit yesterday, the max she could have. She will get a new list today reflecting up to another 5 houses if no one dropped her. The sophomore was relaxing with her 'recruitment buddy' and enjoying having rush behind them.  Both ladies start classes on Wednesday.

The school year is up and running! I'm trying to run too...but at the moment it is more of a fast walk.

Tuesday, let's go!

Monday, August 19, 2013

quiet times

The house is not as full as it was last week. We had a very good trip east and settling the middle kid into her dorm room went as smoothly as that type of move can go. The local community, both students and residents, were on hand in huge numbers to assist the freshman moving into their new 'homes.' The room was in good shape, the dads did an awesome job of assembling the lofts and the futon, and the moms helped the girls get unpacked and organized in record time.

Their first day of sorority recruitment started that afternoon, so we said goodbye to her and went back to the hotel to get cleaned up. We met two other couples for dinner at a lovely British themed pub and had a good meal and great conversation. I had fish and chips and for dessert hubby and I split a piece of 'sticky cake' that was divine. I also had a Bass ale on draft...that was a real treat.

We got up very early in the morning and drove the 5 hours home. We stopped for breakfast at the exit for my grandfather's home town, and had a fairly relaxing trip being that Sunday morning is probably one of the least busy days on our main interstate.

We shed some tears along the way, and I have to admit when we pulled around the corner to our street and I saw her car sitting by our house, I got weepy.

She is happy. She is where she wants to be and with a great group of friends to support her. I miss her terribly.

I gave our son a huge hug and told him he isn't allowed to leave just yet....he has 4 more years with us! He laughed.

The new normal is going to take some getting used to. I saw a photo on Facebook of some local girls who are now seniors carrying the Senior Girls banner that they take to football games. The tears welled up again.

Not sure why, but sending this one off to school was even harder than the oldest and that wasn't easy.

But, it is the way of things and she is ready to soar!

It is Monday and I'm glad to be going to work today.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

new projects

Just as we begin to really gear up for the National Meeting, a new project has landed on our desks at work. We are getting a new website and we have to migrate all the content from the old one to the new one. And we really should reorganize it where needed. Great. Oh, and it has to be done by October. Great.

Ugh.

Well, the days that are already speeding by will now pass by on light speed. That is both good and bad.

Talked with the oldest last night and she is sounding pretty good, but tired. I think she will be glad when classes start and everyone gets into a routine at the house.

The middle one is still packing. Lots of boxes. Lots and lots of them.

The youngest is doing fine although he needs a new backpack! Those big high school books finally wore out the Jansport he has been lugging around since 4th grade. lol

Okay, off into Wednesday and I'm out of here for the rest of the week. See ya on Monday.


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

cooking mama

Winter food vs summer food. I tend to cook different stuff during different times of the year. The college bound daughter asked for her favorites to be made this week. Of course her favorite meals are all more winter food meals than summer. So, we had pot roast last night and will have chili on Wednesday.

Tonight, it is grilled chicken, a more summer time meal. As I made the mashed potatoes last night I was thinking about how next week will impact the cooking duties. Down to just three of us at home. The food quantities won't change as the boy is starting to consume amazing amounts of food; a teenage boy phenomena that is quite common. But, sitting down to a big meal might not happen as often. The boy is a lot less structured when it comes to dinner time than the girls ever were. He will eat sandwiches and be happy!

So, this cooking mama has her work cut out for her over the next few days. I also anticipate a run to Gus' Fried Chicken for a meal. That is one of her fave's and something that can't be made at home.

One thing about cooking big, lots of leftovers for lunch!

Monday, August 12, 2013

shopping

We shopped. That is what I did this weekend. Oh, and I did finish reading a book I had loaded on my Nook.

That is the extent of it.

The boxes continue to pile up in the dining room and in her bedroom and now in the garage.

Another chick is getting ready to leave the nest.

Hey, Monday, wishing you would have taken a bit longer to get here.

Friday, August 9, 2013

contest time

Fellow blogger and a YA author, Ms. Lisa Shafer, is running a contest for her two half-vampire books. I think the boy might enjoy reading them. So I've entered her contest to win a hard copy of each.

http://www.lisashafer.blogspot.com/

She has a very fun, informative, and entertaining blog. Check it out!


Thursday, August 8, 2013

the soccer girls

The middle daughter has been busy hanging out as much as she can with her buddies this week. The first one departs for school tomorrow and after that the departures will start to happen on almost a daily basis.

It has been an awesome thing to see how supportive, caring, and connected this group of soccer girls has been over the last 3 years. They are a tight-knit group. Their relationships on and off the field have been a joy to watch.

Friendships are an interesting thing. I don't really talk to any of my friends from my high school days. I stay connected on Facebook to a variety of my friends from college, but truly have only stayed close with one friend from back then. She and I are the kind of friends I hope my daughters will have in their lives. Those friendships stand the test of time, distance, kids, husbands, life.

So when she was feeling a bit sad and blue yesterday thinking about the soccer girls splitting up, we talked for a bit about friends and how it all can work when everyone is at different colleges. We spent more time hugging than talking, because the words only go so far. Yes, this is all part of growing up, but saying goodbye is never easy. It isn't easy when you are 18 or when you are 48. We are lucky to live in a time when those long distance friends are only a cell phone or computer screen away.

We've arrived at Thursday. The week is slipping by and a big shopping trip to Target looms in my future. The countdown is on, yet again.

Enjoy the weekend.




Wednesday, August 7, 2013

time to get it in gear

It has been a rather sluggish week. Perhaps it is just the let down of running around last week trying to help the oldest get ready to return to school. Next week will be nuts getting the middle kid ready to head off to school. The youngest seems to be doing just fine in high school, and he was happy to tell me that he loves having a study hall! The homework is already coming fast and furious, so I'm sure having that class period to complete some of his work is most welcome.

We've also had rainy days so far this week. Muggy, humid, warm days with not a lot of sunshine to perk things up.

My boss returns to work tomorrow from his convention. I'm sure there will be lots of stories to tell. He's already  hinted at several good tales he wants to share with us.

I have plenty of things I need to be doing at work and hope that I can knock several projects out today, but first thing is my first conference call with my 'new' committee. Ugh. Not looking forward to that at all.

Thinking off my Grandma today. Hard to believe a year has gone by since she died. I miss her.

Off I go...Wednesday is here.

Monday, August 5, 2013

off he goes

The alarm will ring in 15 minutes and the boy will begin his first day of high school. Wow. Round three starts now.

It isn't like I didn't know this was coming. I did. I've been thinking about it for a while. But, it is still rather stunning that he is starting high school today.

The oldest is all settled into her amazing, gorgeous, beautiful sorority house. The middle kid is now the focus of the procurement and packing process. Her departure is next on the to-do list.

Summer is now over. School bells will ring today.

Off we go.