A Better Weekend---Surviving Step Parenting

Greetings:

Well I'm dumb and slept from like 5-9pm so I'm awake at 11:30pm.   I spent the last hour catching up on emails and also did all my grading for DMACC.    I create an announcement for each of the classes each Sunday or Monday to remind students what to read and complete for the week (even though they should be watching the class agenda on their syllabus).   I have plenty to grade for ISU too but I'm not mentally prepared to dive into that tonight.    I assigned a bunch of work to most ISU classes last week too so the online pile is growing and by the end of November I'll have a house filled with binders containing unit plans for three classes.   Weeeeee!

Today we took time and carved pumpkins which went better than I predicted.    I made two:  I used the large white one I chose earlier in the month and carved 'Welcome' on it with a template.   I thought it would work well with trick-or-treaters approaching the porch and it will also welcome people to the party.   Two birds---one pumpkin.  Dan carved a pumpkin with Mario on it for Jude---Jude helped by scooping out the guts and supervising Dan's carving skills.    Taylor carved the Broncos design on his pumpkin (horse).    Dan tried carving the word "Indians" onto his own pumpkin but in the middle of it, the designed caved in.  It was too intricate and he was pretty disappointed.   I made a one-eyed monster carving on our other little one.    My one free-hand experiment without a template.

We recently found out that Dan will no longer need to work weekends soon.  Technically this upcoming weekend (November 3) is his last scheduled weekend but he will work Monday-Friday after that point.   He used to have some Tuesdays and some Fridays off but that pattern with change.   He can still work on weekends if he chooses to pick-up shifts for people which can still happen but he needs to see if we have plans or if the boys are scheduled to be here.   So speaking of having weekends off...

He and I had a significant fight today about cleaning and doing stuff around the house.    I gave him the benefit of the doubt in the first months of living here and getting settled.    I also cut him slack during the week because he has to commute and leave the house before 6:30AM.   Unless I ask/tell him to do something (usually repeatedly) he doesn't do squat in the house.   The only thing he was good about was mowing the yard in the summer.   I warned him in the past week that we needed to clean all bathrooms very well, especially with the upcoming party.    The floors really needed to be swept and mopped and everything needed to be wiped down.    He assured me things would get done.    Well we were busy yesterday so it was understandable not much happened around here yesterday.    I slept in today (10am) and realized that Dan had been up for hours before I arose.    I came downstairs and he had been drinking coffee, watching TV, and playing on his phone since 7am.    So I was like, "well I'm up let's get to work".    He looked a bit surprised and said something along the lines of needing time to relax and rest.    Umm you've done that for hours dude, get up.    I told him what I would be doing as we only had so much time to clean, feed the boys lunch, carve pumpkins, and be on the road at 3:45pm to take the boys back to Mariah.   By the time he was doing anything I had two bathrooms done and had even run to the store to grab hamburger buns for lunch.   He did end up cleaning the 2nd floor bathroom on his own, cooked lunch on the grill, and cleaned up his crap from the living room but the fact I have to nag him to do it is getting really old.   He often tells me to just remind him or tell him what to do.    I told him that if he needs someone to tell him to look at the pile of dishes to load into the dishwasher or to pick up random items from the living room that are out of place, that's pretty sad.   I keep having flashbacks to the days we cleaned at his apartment in Newton.   It was gross.    I said something about understanding why his place was so bad in Newton and he honestly seemed surprised and said "It wasn't that bad".    If he has somehow blocked out all the cleaning he had to do and how I had to spend a day there helping him in a rush so he was out in time ----that's scary.

I'm not making him do anything else for the party (other than the begging to clean the house so it's presentable).    I am doing all food prep--buying the food--decorating and planning the activities.   I have a lot to do before Saturday, especially with creating the games and activities.    Both of the older boys were wanting to attend the party but the official decisions were made this weekend.    Due to a choice Colton made this weekend, his invitation was revoked.   Taylor is now allowed to come as he did have a decent weekend here.   All week long he was asking Dan if he could do some yard work here and we have PLENTY of leaves to rake.   When they got home Friday evening we still had a lot of daylight so Dan sent him to the backyard to start raking piles and do some bagging.    He was inside within 10 minutes stating he didn't realize he'd have to do it by himself.    Dan and I were trying get supper ready to go and do something things around the house.   We sent Jude outside to hold the large yard bags so Taylor could put leaves in them---well they were stumped because they couldn't figure that out.   We were like, you can pile them on the rake and dump them in or grab a bunch in your arms and put them in the bag.    We'll they didn't want to touch the leaves and using a rake to dump them in was "impossible".   It took them an hour to fill one bag.    He then claimed it was getting too dark to work and came inside for the night.    Well I decided to prove a point and went outside to work on the leaves and filled 10 bags on my own in an hour.    When I was about done Taylor came out baffled that I was still working (kinda dark but doable) and had done it all on my own.   Dan told me later that Taylor was really embarrassed that I cranked out that much work and was frustrated I took away his work for the next day.     The work ethic with the kids is beyond frustrating.    Even getting Jude to understand what it means to clean his room is trying at times.   We understand why it's an uphill battle for us---the kids don't do this kind of work at their Mom's house.   Both boys have made it clear they don't have to clean their rooms or pick up the house.    Not to be snooty but that's probably why the house looks like hell. 

As for Colton--well he made a dumbass move on Saturday.    Dan and I took the boys fishing on Saturday morning and came back to Ames around 12pm.   We were driving back to town and Colton called Taylor and asked to talk to Dan.    He asked if he could come hang out at the house during the day if he arranged his own rides.    He said his grandparents were fine with him coming up and he would ride back to Ankeny with his Grandpa after the ISU football game.    We were surprised because he was in Ames really quick and before we were back to the house.   We still needed to run to Fareway so I could get ingredients for making cupcakes and we needed garlic bread for lunch.    He said he'd meet us at the grocery store and he did....an Uber had dropped him off.   We were a little confused he used that taxi service but figured his grandparents may have told him to do so to at least get to Ames.  I figured his Grandpa had come up really early for tailgating at the football game.    He paid $30 for the trip up though which seemed ridiculous.    I made a comment in the parking lot about the fact the football game was almost done but he said his grandpa said he could stay longer into the afternoon.    Well about an hour at the house Dan gets a phone call from Colton's grandma who is livid because she had no idea Colton had gone to Ames.   He was supposed to be a block away from their house and she had no idea he had hired an Uber.    His Grandpa has also left Ames already as I was right in that the game had ended.    We sat Colton down in the living room and Dan was pissed.   We also found out from his Grandma that Colton has been doing this for awhile---he just leaves their house, is wasting money on Ubers, is sneaking out at night to go meet girls.   Now mind you, he's 19 so he should want to be out and doing things but here are the issues:

a)  he may be 19 but cognitively he doesn't function at that age--he's more like 14.    Case and point--he had to use an Uber gift certificate because when he showed up in Ames on Saturday, he had forgotten his wallet.    I didn't even know electronic gift certificates existed for Uber. 
b)  due to his legal history, he's not supposed to be gallivanting with girls because he's made poor decisions
c) he really shouldn't have money to go out and have fun with because he can't hold a job and doesn't have the motivation to work.   Dan did a good job of hammering down the fact that he cannot come back here until he's working and we expect it to be more than 20 hours a week or even full time.    Colton claims that nowhere is hiring in Ankeny--which is bullshit because places are already hiring for holiday work.   I suggested Mill's Farm Fleet---they pay well and he could easily get full time work.   He just doesn't like the fact that a normal person works a consistent schedule.    In the past he's worked less than 12 hours a week and complained it was too tiring.    Try one of my 70 hour work weeks buddy. 

Well another consequence was that he is not invited to the Halloween Party anymore.   He didn't understand why he needed that consequence.    He thought us being mad was punishment enough.    The fact he was back online later that day to play video games shows us his grandparents were likely pissed but don't punish him.   I'm sure we'll be the bad guys because of his invitation revocation.  Taylor also made a comment about not attending anymore either because he'd rather see his girlfriend that weekend in Des Moines.   (Fine with me!)   We are doubtful his Mom will go for it though because she would have to taxi him to see the gf and she dropped way too much $$$ on his Halloween costume.   I doubt she'll just let him skip the event she bought it for.    We also got confirmation that she's dating again so I'm sure if there are planned weekends for the boys to be here, she likely has dates or plans set up.    Taylor made a comment that she's brought two different boyfriends to the house this fall but after she shows them the house and introduces them to the boys, they break-up with her immediately.    Interesting eh?

We had a car accident occur in front of our house on Saturday (car on fire and everything) and Taylor and I sat down to watch it all.    We had a good conversation.    He said in the past he got so mad at Dan's house in Newton (in the last year) and gets upset with our current house in Ames because we are strict and don't back down.    He also said it's improved his respect for Dan though and basically called his Mom a pushover.    He also said his Mom is upset because Dan and I never have anything bad happen to us and all the bad stuff happens to her.    I guess she doesn't remember us telling her about our leaking roof this summer.    If she did more preventative things with her house, I think it would hold up better and be more comfortable for her and the boys.    Her basement flooded badly more than once this summer and I guess she got the water out but just told the boys to keep the door shut and they'll not use the basement anymore.    I guess it reeks and is likely molding if I had to guess.   Dan said she's going to get an awful surprise because the water heater, furnace, and other key things are in the basement.   If the basement is that bad and the furnace ever needs to be fixed, I could see a company not willing to go into the area or it's going to ruin her set-up.    The central air is already broken and been broken for almost 4 years.   She also says that Dan is going to have a good life now because he's marrying into money and it's not fair because she can't make him spend the money on the boys.    She also realizes she can't get adjust child support anymore because it would likely go down in price for Dan because I think she actually makes more money than him now.   I think in the past he would spend extra money on the boys (e.g. buy clothes, send extra food to the house, etc.) and forget what he did for her.    I actually keep track of the extra money he sends so she can't complain anymore that he doesn't help with some of the extras.   She tried it once and I shared the details of how much extra he gave her that month based on clothes we bought Jude, etc.    I guess something was rejected with her school loans recently too and she actually has to pay a large sum each month now and had them in forbearance for awhile.   After talking with Taylor, it's apparent he now recognizes the financial bind his mother is in and his remaining medical bills from treatment aren't helping that.    His mouth is still a mess too--he likely needs teeth pulled and still has over 20 cavities.   If you bring it up to Mariah she says she doesn't have the time or money to deal with it.   Oddly enough his mouth doesn't hurt--yet.   I have a feeling there will be a day when a tooth gets really angry and she's going to get an emergency dental bill to add to her debt.    Dan doesn't know if their dentist in Newton will even accept her or the kids as patients either because there is still a balance due.    Dan paid off Jude's balance a couple years ago but wasn't going to pay for her or Taylor. 

Things to look forward to this week:

• Trick-or-treating on Wednesday!   Gavin is likely coming over to help and my co-worker Kathy may come over too.  
• I have my last art class tomorrow night.    I made some cool things with acrylic paint but I'm not sharing much else as some things may be Christmas presents.  
• Grateful that Alissa is coming later this week and I will definitely need help to prepare for the party
• ISU Women's basketball starts on Thursday night too!   

Today's blog entry felt like word vomit but it helped me get a lot off my chest about the step-child situation.    Thankfully Dan let's me choose my battles.   Jude always comes to the house when he's supposed to but I can veto when Taylor and Colton come over.    Colton will not be back in our house this year.   Taylor has to keep earning it so it's a weekend-by-weekend decision each time he asks to come over.   I'm waiting for the weekend when I change my mind mid-weekend and Taylor has to go back early.    We've made it clear if he's being that awful, Mariah will come and get him.    She's always said that will be fine but if it ever occurs I can see her pitching a fit.   That woman does not like to drive far from Newton.    

Novel complete!

First Post in October *hangs head in shame*

It's been a pretty decent month that's included more fun than usual and here I am not blogging until October 20th.    In my defense, my workload got pretty intense and will be so until mid December.   I've done some grading today already but will admit I slept in way too long.   

So here is the skinny on what's been happening in life:

• I finally got to attend Valley Scare and it did not disappoint (except for my ass being too big for some of the rides).    The scary attractions were well done and plentiful and it was worth the money.   I will admit I was exhausted by the time we went through the last haunted site (Zombie High School).    Props to Alissa for driving all the way back into Iowa and Cedar Falls when everyone else fell asleep in the car.   
• While on the topic of haunted ventures, Alissa and I enjoyed Slaughterhouse in Des Moines.   It was very well done and very scary.    I hadn't been to an attraction with such good live actors but also electronic monsters and scare too.   We went to Zombie Burger afterwards, it was probably only my third visit to the original location.   Oddly enough it wasn't my burger I was wowed by but the indulgent milkshake I got to go--Crunch Berry shake.   Never been a fan of that cereal but I guess if you mix it with ice cream it's the bomb.
• In terms of the house, the front is officially decorated for the holiday.    The inside of the house is decorated too but things will be moved around a bit for the party.    I spent all of last Saturday unpacking and organizing the office in the house.    It looks so much better.    I was able to throw a lot of stuff away too.   I still need to redo my filing cabinets so that's the next task.   Regardless, I can keep the doors open during the party and not be horribly embarrassed.  
• Both teaching jobs are going quite well.    Yes I'm buried in grading but everything is under control.    I'm especially happy with a change I made in my class for future secondary health teachers.   Each Thursday two groups of students go to Ames High School and lead action-based health activities with students.    If the health teacher likes the activities we give him a copy of all materials, etc.   I just like the students being able to "practice" with actual students before they student teach and experience the attitudes and behaviors of teenagers.   
• The cats are doing very well and cohabitate nicely for the most part.   The kitten still plays a lot and is energetic.  Jinx will play and wrestle for a bit but Jinx reaches a threshold and gets pretty angry.    She usually turns it up a notch and beats the shit out the kitten to make a point that she wants to be left alone.   

I guess that's the jist of what I have going on right now---thought I had more to report on. 

Lucy

Well, Dan finally has his own cat now since I stole Jinx from him when she was brought to the house.    In my defense I cannot help that I'm a wonderful person and his first cat took to me.   We decided to look at the local shelter last week and picked out a kitten.    Gavin and I actually looked at the kittens before Dan got there and I successfully predicted the cat Dan would pick out.   The kitten was very timid and not socialized well and it actually reminded me of Jude.   The shelter was actually a little leery to let the kitten go initially but since we don't have a dog and no small children, it worked out.  The cat's originally name was Stubby.   Dan changed it to Lucy since she was shy and timid.    We call her Lucy Liu too even though she's not an Asian actress. 

I've included some pictures to show Jinx's demeanor as well as general pics of Lucy too.

The last picture is also to show how chunky Jinx has gotten too. 

Today I did something I've always wanted to do...I bought Halloween decorations for the porch and the front of my house.    I took Jude with me and tried to involve him in the decisions too.     He helped pick out the goodies that will be put into grab bags for the kids that attend my party on November 3.    I'll be sure to add some pictures of the porch and the front of the house when things are done and set-up.    I'm taking it easy money-wise but I'm excited to decorate in the next week or so.    We have plenty of leaves falling too and I'm even getting the decorated bags that hold leaves too.    I went with ghost bags instead of the standard pumpkin bags. 

Pretty simple update this time! 

Concert Anticipation is High

Greetings:

I'm getting pretty excited because in less than 24 hours I will be watching one of my favorite bands perform.    I've always wanted to see Live...live in person and fortunately they reunited last year and decided to tour again.    We are seeing them at the Hard Rock in Sioux City.    Counting Crows is performing too...they should be good as well but I'm not as jazzed about them.    It's been neat to see Bush this year and continue to see bands I enjoyed in the 90s.    Another perk is that 90s bands tend to play smaller venues and typically the tickets are pretty affordable.   We have another concert in October too in Des Moines.   

Work has been going splendidly and I really have no complaints.    I've been able to consistently work ahead and stay ahead of my prep for both ISU and DMACC.    By the end of September I'll have a lot of homework rolling in though and I'll be spending more time grading lesson plans and the such.    One thing that is quite helpful is that I only have one section of my elementary health methods class.   In past years I've had two sections (90-100 students) and due to changes with enrollment, we only need one section now in the fall and spring.   It's nice only having 42 students in that class.   

Swim & Gym started this past week too.   I wasn't watching my enrollment list very well and instead of cutting off registration at 40, I let 52 kids into the program.    It's fine with our gym and outdoor activities.    The pool is rather full.    Being that most kids need to be in the shallow end, things are a bit cramped.   Whoops.   I also had two lifeguards quit the day before we started which sadly isn't unexpected but still irritating.    I had one hire on standby if something like that happened so thankfully he was able to start on Thursday.    I wish students had a clue about professionalism. 

Gavin's doing very well with college and made the comment today about being surprised that it's already week 4 for the semester.   He got a B on his first biology test and a C on his first chemistry test.   He has a lot of homework each day but his plugging through.   He has his first psychology test next week.   He informed me he got to watch a video about a full natural birth recently in that class.    (Developmental Psych)    He said it wasn't as bad as watching the c-section video in high school.   Gross. 

Other random details lately:

• I received my 1/4 beef today and it was oddly satisfying to re-organize my deep freeze and put all that meat in there.    Stewart and Shirley actually drove up to get their beef today and offered to pick up mine too.   No need to drive for hours?   Yes please.    
• Gavin was originally going to drive up with me to get the meat but came over to wait for its delivery so he could carry it into the basement.   He was cool and also cleaned out our gutters.   And thank god he did because they were plum full of leaves and crap.   I also trimmed bushes and low trees and we filled two lawn waste bags.   Boring yes but quite exciting for a homeowner.  
• Dan and I may be joining a year-long study at ISU that gives us free exercise access, free dietician access, and pays too.  We have upcoming appointments to do checks to see if we are eligible (blood pressure, blood work, etc.).    
• I am getting excited for haunted attractions in the next months.   Alissa and I may try to go to Valley Scare in MN and I recently found out about a very scary attraction in Des Moines too.    Ames has its usual Haunted Forest too.    I'm continuing to make plans for my Halloween Party on November 3 too.   I made some hardcopy invites for people at work and for those without Facebook too.   

I guess that's it for now.   Figured it was time for an update.   

Week One--Check

It is a much needed weekend/Saturday as the first week of the school year started off really well.    It's always a little goofy in the fall as ISU starts on Monday and DMACC starts on Thursday.    The elementary education population has shrunk a bit so I only have one section of my health methods for those folks and the coordinator scheduled it for 11am on MWF so most of those days I don't have to be on campus until 10am.    Rest assured I go in around 9am usually but it makes my mornings pretty open.    Due to a colleague being on sabbatical for the fall, I am covering a methods class for elementary PE on MW afternoons.   I've taught it a handful of times before so it's not too much of a handful but we do have a lab with it that brings about 60 home-school kids to campus once a week.    The class was moved a couple years ago to be in the junior or senior year of the students' program so we were confident those that were truly going to make it to student teaching would take the class so I have a nice group of 23 students that I know well due to having them in other coursework. 

On Tuesdays/Thursdays I don't teach until 2pm and it's my methods class for secondary health education.    A local health teacher wanted to work with me and the class so the students had more interaction with actual high school-aged students.   His communication SUCKS though so it's making me a bit nervous about the planning and organization that needs to happen through December.    I actually need to email him after this and professionally nag him about checking his email since he hasn't responded to something I sent about a week ago.    He's actually one of my past students and many of us were not thrilled when he landed this health ed job as he's not doing it justice.    My ulterior motive is to bring better, engaging activities into his health classroom so the students do get some meaningful lessons. 

Swim & Gym will start on September 11 but I did have to review the syllabus component with those taking it a class and I have an orientation meeting for it on September 4 for everyone involved as I still have some people on payroll to help with it.   I've had a lot of new people sign up for it this fall so depending on what I want to do...I may be able to make it a larger program soon and go beyond having 40 kids enrolled. 

At DMACC I'm teaching Sports Diversity and Personal Wellness (high school version) and both are online.     Both classes have an introductory type of assignment to complete as I have to report attendance soon and if someone isn't cutting the mustard and submitting any work, they get yanked from the class.    It's DMACC's way of preventing students from abusing their financial aid. 

Gavin had a good week and I went out to lunch with him on Friday.    He's only nervous about the two labs he has on his schedule (biology and chemistry) as he can tell they require a lot of work from him.   If I remember correctly,  his chemistry TA may not speak English well either.    Our next door neighbor is in charge of the biology labs at ISU and Gavin's already bumped into him too.   Of course in the first week of classes ISU had idiots on campus one night showing "firearms" by the very northside dorms but turns it out was BB guns and an airsoft gun.    It also sounds like Gavin got to experience his first fire alarm in the middle of the night last night too.   He's enjoying his job too.   He mainly works during the slow period in a local dining center.   On one day he makes deli sandwiches per order, one day he makes pizzas and ensures enough are out for students to take if hungry, and on a third day he washes dishes.    It gives him 10 hours of work a week. 

I had hopes to do more today as I want to start attending more ISU volleyball matches but with Dan working, I didn't feel like taking Jude out by myself.    We could have gone to the Farmer's Market too but nah.    There is another volleyball match tonight at 6:30pm that I could try to go to after Dan's home from work.     I slept wrong the other night and have a huge knot in my upper right back/shoulder blade.   Staying home with a heating pad hasn't been too shabby today.   I'm also trying to finish the book "The Sun Also Rises" as my book club discusses it on Tuesday.    It's a very dry book and I'm sorry but Hemingway doesn't do much to capture the reader's attention.    Sounds like most others in the club aren't thrilled with it either.   Our next theme is "back to school" for September and I've nominated "Fahrenheit 451" as the book to read.   Not sure what the other nominations are but the book is supposed to focus on school or relate to a book we read years ago when in school.    Gavin read the book last year and said he really liked it in his AP English class which is why I thought of it.   Plus it's a story that talks about a society getting rid of books so I thought the irony would be cool for a book club. 

Guess that's it for now!    Here is Gavin on his move-in day.    I need to pop in and see what their room looks like now.    I stopped by and gave him a bag of snacks the other day (Funyons, Cheez-Its, etc.) and LeAnn sent him a care package with treats so apparently he is the envy of his friends with his little pantry in his room.   

Vacation Come and Gone---Time to Work Again

Greetings:

My time off has run out and it's back to the grind with full time work.    I've been working part-time in the last weeks as I'm still doing work for the grant at ISU, prepped for this upcoming week's orientation for new grad students, and I'm prepping for my classes that start on August 20 for ISU.    I really haven't done much for my class prep.    I really should start on that.   I'm teaching two DMACC classes too and they start on August 23. 

We were able to jet up to Minneapolis for a quick vacation and it was a combination birthday present for Dan too.   His favorite baseball team (Cleveland Indians) were playing a triple header against the Minnesota Twins.    Thankfully the Indians won 2 out of the 3 games.    I was very pleased with how Jude did with all the walking and the length of the baseball games.   We also worked in a trip to the Minnesota Zoo.  Believe it or not I think initially Dan and I were more excited to go there but it ended up that Gavin and I were more excited to see the animals.    Gavin is enamored with otters.   Ask him about it.   There was a state park with waterfalls that I wanted to go to but we never worked it in so I will try to get back and to go that.    My coworker said she'd go back up with me since she's in Minneapolis a lot to see her family.

I've been trying to do more around the house but still haven't tackled the office yet.   It's still chaos and needs to be organized.   I'm starting at it right now as I write this blog and watch my movie.    By the way I'm watching the movie "Lady Bird" and it's fantastic.    Gavin and I spent part of the day packing him up.    He just needs to pack up his clothes and he's set to move in on Tuesday.   Coincidentally my schedule may allow me to help him move in on Tuesday too as long as we get it done in the morning.    He picked out a new backpack today too and he is set with his new laptop.   Bring on ISU.   

So here's the plan in the next week:

• provide orientation for new grad students
• new orientation features a 'mix and mingle' event which is new and should hopefully make the new students feel more welcome---takes place Thursday afternoon
• work on my syllabi, primarily for ISU
• work with Dan's mom and her husband to taxi Jude back and forth as they are helping to watch Jude since I need to work 
• attend Czech Days on Saturday!

I also set the date for my Halloween party.    It has to be on Saturday, November 3 to work around ISU football but I'm excited to have a shindig for the holiday I love.   We plan to have yummy food,  some fun games, and we want people to dress up.  I plan to have prizes for some costume categories.  Some possible ideas may be:

• scariest costume
• best couples costume
• best school spirit costume

I'll probably have a goody bag for all kids that come to the party too.    I want Halloween to be my annual party to host so let's hope it takes off well this year and continues to be a hit.

I guess that's enough for tonight.    Hopefully I can rave about how well I oriented my new grad students in the next entry.   

Here's a tribute to Gavin's love of otters.  

The Best Week of July

Time for another update as it's 2:09AM and I cannot sleep.  I spent hours working on lesson plans with hopes of getting tired but nope, wide awake.    Probably going to go work on organizing part of the basement after this.    Oddly enough I was exhausted around 2:00pm earlier today and kind of slept then for like an hour so I'm slowly screwing up my sleep schedule.   Go me!

• I'm excited for this week because it's the end of the summer program.    I enjoy it and the such but by week 6-7 I am ready for it to be done.   We have the usual Family Night on Wednesday so I have some preparations to do for that event.    I need to do them today (Monday) and Wednesday because Ames will be a zoo on Tuesday.   Why you ask?   RAGBRAI will take over the city.
• Cory and Katie and their crew are camping in our yard on Tuesday evening and are welcome to use our facilities and showers.    Dan's boss and her fellow bikers aren't camping on our property but we are letting them shower if they want to as well.    It's going to be a little odd as both Dan and I will likely be at work when people actually get to town but I'm making Gavin stay home to be the host so people aren't in the house without anyone present.   I actually just made some signs to post so people use the correct door, bathrooms, etc.  
• I'm oddly excited that Jude is FINALLY going to the dentist on Tuesday too.    He's getting a bit nervous but it's been something I've been pushing Dan about for two years.    The next thing on my list was a well-child check-up but that's actually happening without my nagging.    Jude lost his place in his after school program and is using a new one and they require a physical.   Wahoo!    He has a physical on August 10.   The next thing on my list---he has to get a flu vaccine this year.    After the number of times he got the flu last year, I would hope his mother doesn't fight Dan on this.   
• Gavin finished his thank-yous today.    He's pleased to have that endeavor done but now he needs to start organizing himself for moving into his dorm.    I had mentioned buying his laptop in the last update but I noticed my debit card was never charged.    I contacted the store and was informed I should have gotten an email stating the purchase had to be canceled.    We are buying a laptop through the bookstore at the university and the model of laptop we bought was no longer going to be bought under contract by ISU.     Thankfully they just bought a contract to similar (better) model of laptop of the same brand so we bought that instead.    It was slightly cheaper too.    I'm just irritated because I never got the so-called email that was to notify me the sale couldn't happen anymore.     
• Dan and I spent time today organizing our furnace room and added another shelf and it is the last shelf we needed to organize our extra food and extra appliances for the kitchen.    The room looks a lot better and bigger now too.    We also got a lot off the floor too in case we would ever get water but I hope that never happens.    
• I am grateful for this extra job in terms of the extra money (not that I've seen any of it yet) but I am very sick of being on a computer so much as well as writing lesson plans.   I am actually having to wear my glasses more often because my eyes dry out too much with contacts when I stare at the computer so much.   Sad but true.  I'm going to have to bring my computer and do work on our vacation which is sad and I have to participate in some webinar meetings too.    Our hotel has a business center so I'm hoping I can bop into their to have those meetings and not have them in our room as I doubt the others can be quiet.    The last time I tried having a meeting at home I had a loud meowing cat and a 9-year-old asking about yogurt a lot.   

Computer battery is almost dead so update is done for now.   Here is a picture of our damn cute cat.