My dad is getting old. I take that back. My dad is old. He turned 83 in March. He had a car accident on Saturday. He says he doesn't think he ran the red light. I don't know what to believe. Like I said, he's old.
We have to pay more than usual attention to him because Rey is helping him with his car insurance etc.. (My dad likes the attention.) I was going to take him to get his car rental today but I ended up taking him to body shop to sign off on his car so his insurance can pick it up. It was totaled.
I walked across the street to the lot so he could get some papers out of the car. I hadn't seen the car and I was shocked when I saw it. The accident was a lot worse than I thought. His entire hood is bent into a rooftop shape. I am so surprised he didn't get hurt. If the crash had been in a little more he could have broken one or both legs.
I took him back home and I called him later to remind him that he needed to go pick up his rental. Enterprise said it would be ready after 2 p.m. He didn't answer on his home phone but then he answered his cell. I asked him what he was doing and he said he'd gone walking in the neighborhood to see if anyone was selling a small pick-up truck. (He says he doesn't want another car.)
He was all out of breath because he was tired and it was hot outside. And he's 83. He said he hadn't even made it home because he was so tired and he was sitting on the empty lot next to his house. He told me that on his way home a dog tried to bite him. (My dad and dogs do not get along.) He said he'd gotten scared and he had to ask a young guy riding by on a bike to ride alongside him so the dog wouldn't come after him.
I laughed, but I was worried at the same time. "Okay, go get your car so you don't have to go walking around the neighborhood anymore and so you don't have to worry about dogs," I said. He laughed.
I hung up but I couldn't help but worry. I was scared when I saw his car. Scared for him because I know that he will not give up driving very easily. I know he is going to fight us the whole way if we ask him to give it up. Scared at what's still ahead of us all.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Mom of the Year Award
Yesterday was "Magenta's" first day of school. She was so excited to start and I was so excited to actually drop her off on time.
Later that day around 5:40 I get a call from one of my ad agencies. He needs a quote and all this information. He also needs for me to overnight him a media kit. I stay on the phone with him until 6 p.m. and then I look for my assistant only to find out she's gone for the night. I don't have access to our UPS account so that I can overnight stuff myself (note to self, learn procedure) so I'm stressing out a little. This is a pretty big ad schedule we're talking about.
My husband calls and listens to my woes then asked in a pretty calm voice, "So who's picking up the kids?"
"I am!" I snap back, on the defensive.
"Magenta too? You do realize it's 6 p.m."
At that I freak out, "OH NO!" All this time I'm picturing the kids at the sitter's. I completely forgot that Magenta started school and that I have to pick her up at 6 p.m.
In a panic I call my sister with the other hand. Thank goodness she answers and she's on her way to pick her up. Thank goodness my sister lives around the corner from school too. I think I've said that plenty of times.
Rey laughs, "Boy! You're winning the mother-of-the-year award!"
I'm not amused, but I am. I feel bad, but it's hilarious at the same time. The school calls and leaves a message in the meanwhile. I call them back and I apologize profusely. The man is very understanding and says it's natural on the first day of school. When I pick up Magenta from my sister's house I ask her how many kids were forgotten. She says she was the only one. Yeah, "everyone forgets."
She's very forgiving and doesn't even seem to care. She's more excited about the new addition to my sister and brother-in-law's menagerie. A new puppy named Bella Blue who sits tall on my brother-in-law's lap and growls in her throat at Magenta then barks. Magenta cracks up, finding her hilarious. I kiss her. She still loves me. I'm not such a bad mom after all. If I hadn't forgotten her she wouldn't have had a chance to meet Bella Blue that day. Motherhood and all it's challenges!
Later that day around 5:40 I get a call from one of my ad agencies. He needs a quote and all this information. He also needs for me to overnight him a media kit. I stay on the phone with him until 6 p.m. and then I look for my assistant only to find out she's gone for the night. I don't have access to our UPS account so that I can overnight stuff myself (note to self, learn procedure) so I'm stressing out a little. This is a pretty big ad schedule we're talking about.
My husband calls and listens to my woes then asked in a pretty calm voice, "So who's picking up the kids?"
"I am!" I snap back, on the defensive.
"Magenta too? You do realize it's 6 p.m."
At that I freak out, "OH NO!" All this time I'm picturing the kids at the sitter's. I completely forgot that Magenta started school and that I have to pick her up at 6 p.m.
In a panic I call my sister with the other hand. Thank goodness she answers and she's on her way to pick her up. Thank goodness my sister lives around the corner from school too. I think I've said that plenty of times.
Rey laughs, "Boy! You're winning the mother-of-the-year award!"
I'm not amused, but I am. I feel bad, but it's hilarious at the same time. The school calls and leaves a message in the meanwhile. I call them back and I apologize profusely. The man is very understanding and says it's natural on the first day of school. When I pick up Magenta from my sister's house I ask her how many kids were forgotten. She says she was the only one. Yeah, "everyone forgets."
She's very forgiving and doesn't even seem to care. She's more excited about the new addition to my sister and brother-in-law's menagerie. A new puppy named Bella Blue who sits tall on my brother-in-law's lap and growls in her throat at Magenta then barks. Magenta cracks up, finding her hilarious. I kiss her. She still loves me. I'm not such a bad mom after all. If I hadn't forgotten her she wouldn't have had a chance to meet Bella Blue that day. Motherhood and all it's challenges!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
So All Good Things Must Come to an End...
Well our anniversary weekend has come to an end. We had gifts, lunch together on Thursday (I forgot to mention that. They even gave us free ice cream for dessert!) dinner with friends on Friday, and celebrated with my in-laws yesterday.
The celebration didn't start before having some drama. Before my in-laws got here, my father left my house saying he was going to his favorite little restaurant. He called an hour later saying he was in a serious car accident.
Thank goodness he wasn't hurt seriously, but he did scrape up his wrist a little. The bad part was that the people he hit had no insurance and said he ran a red light. My father doesn't think he ran a red light but instead of denying it he told the police he wasn't sure. Ay a yay! Of course if they didn't have any insurance they were going to try to turn the tables to try to get out of it and to get money.
After all that drama we visited with my in-laws and played dice. I love these Smirnoff Ice drinks. I love the Green Apple Bite flavor. They are just right, not too strong and they taste great. That was my drink of choice last night.
Today is Sunday. Magenta starts First Grade tomorrow. I'm back on my restricted schedule. I have to have her at school a little before 8. Because even though they say school starts at 8 they really want them at their desk at 8. My question is. Why don't they just tell the parents that the bell rings at 7:50? Then they can have all the kids in their desks by 8.
Turn out the lights! The party is over. I have so much laundry to do that I'm taking it all to the laundrymat myself and just washing it all at one time. I have to get it all out of the way. So begins the new week and the new schedule. I never thought about it when I got married 10 years ago. Our anniversary will always fall on the weekend before school starts. Funny, the things you don't think about when you don't have kids.
The celebration didn't start before having some drama. Before my in-laws got here, my father left my house saying he was going to his favorite little restaurant. He called an hour later saying he was in a serious car accident.
Thank goodness he wasn't hurt seriously, but he did scrape up his wrist a little. The bad part was that the people he hit had no insurance and said he ran a red light. My father doesn't think he ran a red light but instead of denying it he told the police he wasn't sure. Ay a yay! Of course if they didn't have any insurance they were going to try to turn the tables to try to get out of it and to get money.
After all that drama we visited with my in-laws and played dice. I love these Smirnoff Ice drinks. I love the Green Apple Bite flavor. They are just right, not too strong and they taste great. That was my drink of choice last night.
Today is Sunday. Magenta starts First Grade tomorrow. I'm back on my restricted schedule. I have to have her at school a little before 8. Because even though they say school starts at 8 they really want them at their desk at 8. My question is. Why don't they just tell the parents that the bell rings at 7:50? Then they can have all the kids in their desks by 8.
Turn out the lights! The party is over. I have so much laundry to do that I'm taking it all to the laundrymat myself and just washing it all at one time. I have to get it all out of the way. So begins the new week and the new schedule. I never thought about it when I got married 10 years ago. Our anniversary will always fall on the weekend before school starts. Funny, the things you don't think about when you don't have kids.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Happy 10th Anniversary to Me & My Love
Card by Anne Taintor (www.annetaintor.com)This was originally written on 8/23/07 but shows up as 8/24/07.
I can't believe it! Ten years. Wow! I have so much to celebrate. First of all our patience with one another! Then of course the two beautiful human beings we brought into this world together. They are two precious lives worth celebrating on this anniversary.
Rey shocked the heck out of me and gave me a pair of diamond earrings. I thought we had decided not to give each other anything. He said that all he wanted was to fix his classic car so I didn't get him anything. Imagine my surprise when last night he gave me the earrings! I was so happy and sad at the same time. Happy because I've always wanted a pair of diamond earrings, but sad because I didn't get him anything. That's okay, he'll get his car up and running soon and he'll be happy. Oh! I did send him flowers today. They were delivered in the morning and he called to tell me when they arrived. He was surprised but I don't think he really likes flowers, even though I do, so I don't think I'm going to do that again.
Since he said we weren't buying gifts I decided to buy myself a couple of things. I bought this really pretty bracelet that I saw a few months ago at a store called Silver Ideas. If you live in Houston you need to check out this store. Super beautiful jewelry and rare gifts. I saw this bracelet a few months ago and the lady was supposed to call me back when it was ready (she had to add a bead). I never got a message from her and I forgot about the bracelet. When I was in there the other day I saw my bracelet so of course I had to get it. Turns out she had been waiting for me to come back in to get it.
I also bought myself a new tampon holder from Uncommon Goods. (something tin!) I lost my super cute cowgirl one in the car rental place restroom at the San Diego airport. I was so bummed so I got this new one to take its place. I also got the pill box for my Benadryl.
As I'm getting older my allergy to shell fish is getting more sensitive. I've gotten really small hives when I just have fish that's been cooked on the same grill as the shrimp. That didn't used to happen before. Now I have to make it a point to tell the wait person, even if all I'm ordering is fish.
The other thing I was going to buy myself was a bottle of Lovely. I've been wanting that perfume and actually I haven't had any perfume in a couple of months. I smelled Lovely when it first came out almost two years ago and when I first sprayed it on me it smelled like old lady perfume. But then something very surprising happened. Once it mixed with the PH balance of my skin the smell changed to a very nice "lovely" smell. So I've wanted a bottle ever since. Now that I've gotten myself two gifts and the earrings I feel like I should wait until later.
Tomorrow I'm taking the day off and spending the morning with the kids. In the evening we're going to dinner with some friends who also had anniversaries this month. That should be fun. The sitter will keep the kids through the evening.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
What I'm Reading These Days
I picked this up in the Las Vegas airport Wednesday night during my very long connection.
Anniversary Week Amidst a Hurricane
So our anniversary is this Thursday and we still haven't thought of anything to do. And this is a big one too. Ten years. Did you know that that's the TIN and ALUMINUM Anniversary?? What the heck is that? My husband said he was going to get me some Reynold's Wrap. Then I saw somewhere else that the traditional 1o year is tin but that the modern one is DIAMOND. I think I want the modern one instead. Who cares if that was created by our modern greedy society? I want diamonds!! (hee hee) Actually you can find some really interesting tin or aluminum gifts on Uncommon Goods.
I think we may have dinner on Friday. That is if we aren't evacuated and/or the house isn't in shambles. Hurricane Dean may hit us on Wednesday, if it turns just a little and goes more North. As of now it's hitting southern Texas and Northern Mexico, after it passes through the Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula.
School starts next week and we did all the school shopping yesterday. My daughter, who we will call by her play name from now on, Magenta, has all her new uniforms, pants for when it gets cold, socks, shoes, etc.. The only thing missing is a jacket for winter, but we have plenty of time for that. It's so sweltering hot right now that she really didn't even need a sweater, but I bought her one since it goes with the whole uniform look and they may not have any later. I love uniforms! They are so cute, especially the pleated skorts. (I think play names are better for minor children.)
I need to get the baby, referred to from now by his play name, Rontu, a new backpack too so he feels special, even though he isn't getting all the new clothes and shoes.
Another thing we need to do this week, provided we don't get the hurricane, is an Ice Cream Social at Magenta's school. She starts FIRST grade this Fall. She's been looking forward to the Ice Cream Social because she gets to meet her teacher and visit her classroom. I do hope it isn't canceled!
The San Diego trip was really good work-wise. I had two very good sales calls. However, traveling is way more trouble than it is worth. I was so exhausted when I finally came home that it took me a whole other day just to recuperate. I really do prefer day trips that don't require any overnight stays. It's easier on everyone.
I was thinking about how much easier it must be for men to travel for work, especially if they have a stay at home wife. They just pack a bag and go. It takes a lot more out of a woman with a husband and children.
I think we may have dinner on Friday. That is if we aren't evacuated and/or the house isn't in shambles. Hurricane Dean may hit us on Wednesday, if it turns just a little and goes more North. As of now it's hitting southern Texas and Northern Mexico, after it passes through the Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula.
School starts next week and we did all the school shopping yesterday. My daughter, who we will call by her play name from now on, Magenta, has all her new uniforms, pants for when it gets cold, socks, shoes, etc.. The only thing missing is a jacket for winter, but we have plenty of time for that. It's so sweltering hot right now that she really didn't even need a sweater, but I bought her one since it goes with the whole uniform look and they may not have any later. I love uniforms! They are so cute, especially the pleated skorts. (I think play names are better for minor children.)
I need to get the baby, referred to from now by his play name, Rontu, a new backpack too so he feels special, even though he isn't getting all the new clothes and shoes.
Another thing we need to do this week, provided we don't get the hurricane, is an Ice Cream Social at Magenta's school. She starts FIRST grade this Fall. She's been looking forward to the Ice Cream Social because she gets to meet her teacher and visit her classroom. I do hope it isn't canceled!
The San Diego trip was really good work-wise. I had two very good sales calls. However, traveling is way more trouble than it is worth. I was so exhausted when I finally came home that it took me a whole other day just to recuperate. I really do prefer day trips that don't require any overnight stays. It's easier on everyone.
I was thinking about how much easier it must be for men to travel for work, especially if they have a stay at home wife. They just pack a bag and go. It takes a lot more out of a woman with a husband and children.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Busy Weekend, School Starting and 10 Year Anniversary
I have a busy weekend ahead of me. I have tons of laundry to do and I have to make preparations to be gone Tuesday and Wednesday for work. I have to go to San Diego and Los Angeles on sales calls. It's not every day that I have to go out of town for work so it does take preparation with our support team, my sitter and my sister. They are the ones who will help my husband while I'm gone. I have to make sure I leave everything prepared for them so that I can leave the sitter all their clothes. I don't think people realize all the preparation that a mother goes through to leave her family for just a couple of days. I won't even be gone a whole 48 hours and it's a task.
I can't believe school is starting again in two short weeks! It's amazing how fast the summer went by. I have to do the whole school shopping thing next weekend. I do and I don't look forward to that. I love the adorable school clothes out there!
Then there's my 10 year anniversary. It's 12 days away and we have no idea what we're going to do. Well, here's one. So I'm taking suggestions. Send me your ideas.
I can't believe school is starting again in two short weeks! It's amazing how fast the summer went by. I have to do the whole school shopping thing next weekend. I do and I don't look forward to that. I love the adorable school clothes out there!
Then there's my 10 year anniversary. It's 12 days away and we have no idea what we're going to do. Well, here's one. So I'm taking suggestions. Send me your ideas.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Read it. You won't regret it. Read it this weekend if you can. I read it Friday-Tuesday. This is one of the best book I have ever read. Maybe even better than The Kite Runner. That's all I'm saying.
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