Weekend Assignment

Weekend Assignment #43: Congratulations, you've become your own soverign state! Design a flag for the United States of You, using no more than three colors and one symbol (the symbol can be of any color). Explain your design choices. Don't worry about actually making the flag -- you can just tell us about it.

My country would be enclosed in my bubble.  I've discussed my bubble before, and it's safety knows no bounds.  Bad things just don't happen to people in the bubble.  Wanna come inside?  The flag is to follow.

Extra credit: make a picture of the flag. Because, let's face it, that's time-intensive.

 

Yeah, purple isn't exactly "me", but it's such a peaceful color. 

What's cool

When I was in Jr. High, Atari was cool. Later, hanging out with my friends and making my own money for the first time in my life was cool.  Then I got older, and it seems that what's "cool" is always evolving.

I am upstairs in my bedroom, playing on the computer, and the 9 year old is downstairs on the kid computer.  She is instant messaging me, asking technical questions and understanding the answers.  That's cool.

Kevin bought a used dryer at this used appliance store here in town.  It is cheap, but a huge step up for us.  He brought it home and hooked it up, and there is a load in there now.  That's cool.

My son is at his dad's, learning to parallel park so that he can get his licence soon.  That's cool.

My parents take my girls 'most every Saturday night, where they hang out, play and enjoy their company...not to mention giving us a free night.  Many grandparents are fine with only seeing their grandkids a couple of times a year...not my folks.  That's cool.

I'm gainfully employed, the family is healthy, the kids are smart and well-adjusted, and my marriage is a great one.  That's cool.

Monica's relief, and comic relief

Monica's teacher dealt with the situation quite nicely.  The boy was called into the hall for a face-to-face with Monica.  He says that he doesn't remember saying it, but he's sorry.  She's happy with that, and he didn't say a word to her this afternoon.  It's all good.  I probably worried too much anyway, but I'm glad it's over.

Today, she had a timed multiplication test.  This is a page of 100 problems, and they have 5 minutes to finish.  The first couple tests were horrible.  She finished *maybe* 30 or 40 problems, and cried and cried.  Today, a mere 4 months later, she brought home a test with all 100 answered, and all 100 correct!  I am so proud!  Add this to the straight "A" report card, and I'm ONE happy Momma!

Now, a funny.  She obviously got her sense of humor from her dad.  They had a spelling bee in her class today.  When it was Monica's turn, the teacher said, "Finalist."  Monica thought hard for a minute, head cocked to the side, then asked, "can you repeat the word, please?"  The teacher said again, (all serious and slow, like a "real" spelling bee) "Finalist".  Monica cocked her head to the side again, then looked at the teacher and asked sweetly, "can you spell it?"

Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard at this.  My kids are so freaking funny!

Bullys

Monica has a problem.  There is a kid who is 10, in another third grade class, and he's known for being mean.  From her 9-year-old perception, he's "slow" and a bit of a bully.  While getting on the bus, she bumped into him, then said "sorry!"  He looked at her and said, "I'm gonna beat you up tomorrow."  She is scared shitless.

Granted, she is a drama queen.  This is *her* version of things, and it's probably not half as bad as she makes it sound, but I can't take that chance.  If my daughter has a *slight* chance of being "beat up", I have to do something.  I emailed the teacher.  Yeah, maybe it's lame, but her teacher loves her very much, and would do anything for her/us.  I explained the situation, and hope that someone takes a look.

As I went in to tuck them in to bed, Monica looked at me, all teary eyed, and said "but I've never been beat up before."  Shit.  I told her that she should just move close to an adult when he's around, until someone handles this.  I told her that she should never interrupt an adult conversation, so maybe she could just slide close to a teacher and slip her hand into the teacher's hand.  That will alert them that there is a problem.  I wonder if I should call the bus barn, too?

Maybe this is nothing, but it's my daughter, dammit!  I am thinking about dropping them off at school in the morning and being late to work.  Then, if the teacher hasn't answered my email by midday, I can call to explain.  They don't always have time to check email until after school.  I don't want to be a paranoid mom, but I want to protect my daughter.  Sheesh!  Even Natalie was crying, asking me why Monica couldn't just "kick him in the face."  Violent, but loving.

Kevin hates cats

 

Yeah, this is my cat-hating husband.  Shhhh, don't tell anyone!

The struggle

If you're going to go on a diet on January 1, it's a BAD idea to order Girl Scout cookies from TWO kids a couple months before hand.  ACK!  They were delivered today!

The plan is to freeze them 2 to a bag and have them on WEEKENDS only.  Now, if only I can stick to the plan. 

Boy, I love Girl Scout cookies.

A bit more of a little of nothing.

After we dropped the girls off at mom's house, we headed to Applebee's.  We managed to have a wonderful lunch without straying from the diet.  Mom was cooking spaghetti, we hadn't eaten...it was a bad combination! LOL  Lunch was good, then we headed out for haircuts.

Kevin got his head practically shaved.  He has to wear a stocking cap at work (he's outside all day) and when he takes it off, his hair is quite funny, so he got rid of it.  Very short buzz.  I got most of mine removed, too.  It was out of control.  I like it a lot, and I think the folks that have seen it agree.  I hope they're not just being nice.

It's a tiny picture, since I turned it into an avatar for my message boards, but you can see how short it is.  She cut over HALF the length off!