Something's wrong with me...I just can't seem to get myself going. But this week...actually from here on out...I have to keep moving. No more sittin' on me bottom. Life is starting to really move.

This past weekend was, um, 'different'. I am going to sound like such a snob right now but, I'm old, it's Monday, and I'm allowed. I told my family that I was no longer attending weddings up that way again. I will send a card with money and wish them well. Hillbilly hoopla.

I am not a big sophisticate. However, I imagine myself to fall somewhere in between Hillbilly Haven and New York City. Although, anymore, the only difference I see between the 'upper crust' and the Hillbilly Bears is the price tag on their clothes.

I won't even begin to describe this wedding. I will say that Troy's niece's gown was gorgeous. Too bad she couldn't do the same with the wedding. My husband and son are indignant with me and keep saying that it wasn't that bad. My daughter has the same look of shock on her face as I do. I told her that I promise that she will have a proper wedding and reception if/when that day comes.

The highlight of it all for me was at the reception...sneaking off to the coat check room where the TV was hidden to watch the Browns/Chiefs pre-season game. I was the only female in the room. Of course, once I started yelling at the screen, the fellas relaxed and decided it was okay that I was there.

My mother had my sister's little girls for the week. A whole week of over energetic 4 and 6 year olds. She was tired. I can't believe my sister took them and dumped them there for a whole week! My mother is 72. And she just spent a year and a half going through many and various surgeries. And the little stinkers, as my mom found out, will not eat much of anything...unless it is some sort of fast food. That is what my sister feeds them. So my mom said that they have eaten lots of McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and Pizza Hut this last week. For my kids to eat fast food it is a 'treat'.

Then there was the whole cell phone hunt incident...I will explain that later. I will say this tho...I'm not sure I want to babysit my nieces...ever.

Okay...I'm not actually nail biting...never really got into that much. Even as a kid...cuz I would look at my nails and fingers and realize how many germs must be on them...and ICK! I was almost weird about how much I used to wash my hands. Now I do it on a more normal basis.

ANYWHO...I had my son drive to his new school this morning. It was schedule pick-up and fee pay day. I knew he looked a wee bit pale. He said his stomach didn't feel too good. He knows the difference between normal butterflies and too much. When he pulled into the parking lot he shut off the car and sat there taking deep breaths. I told him at that point I guess I'd do as his doctor suggested and increase his med dosage the extra 10 mg. for the first couple months of school...then he could back off a bit. He just nodded.

It was about an hour and a half from the time we got in the school until we made the rounds to all the 'stations', gathered papers, calendars, paid money (my job), took a tour of the school so that he could find out where his classes are (that made him relax) and I know enuff about him to know that he (and I) can feel better when every little detail has been addressed. I also told him that for the first two weeks of school...until he is used to everything and feels relaxed...either I or his dad is going to drive him to and from school becuz I am not going to send him on a 15-20 minute drive up the freeway to school and he has a panic attack and gets in an accident. I thought maybe he would give me some resistance on that...but he actually looked like he was relieved and nodded in agreement.

Problem #1) his assigned counselor informed me that the school had NOT received his credits for his last semester for 10th grade from his cyber school...even though I had talked to and e-mailed the one incharge a MONTH AND A HALF ago and she told me she'd send it right out! So I got a fax number from the counselor and when I got home I called the cyber school and told the one incharge of student records/transcripts that I was NOT pleased and that I EXPECTED that TJ's school counselor would receive his transcripts by fax no later than Friday morning. I don't have time for this chit!

THEN when we were done with that, we went to the building next door (which is the college that I attend) to make sure I was signed up and to get my schedule...(Problem #2)only to find out that my student loan info has not come through yet and that they HAVE to HAVE $390 by Friday (the next day!) in order to assure my place in my classes!!!!!

On the way home we stopped for Jr. to get a hair cut (he said he wanted one before school started and I figured we had better do it before he changed his mind). I left a message for the daddy to call me ASAP. He called me about 5 minutes later...I relayed my dilemna to him and VOILA! When he got home he handed me a blank check from his expense account to take up and give the college in the a.m. WOW! Of course, he knows as soon as I get my student loan money, he will be reimbursed...but that was so cool!

I did have one laugh this morning. As I was going to sit at the table with my kids to drink my coffee I looked out the window to the porch and there was Scrawny...on the back of one of the chairs...just laying there...all relaxed...watching the window...waiting patiently for her walnuts. I had never seen her laying sprawled out like that! Too cute! I opened the back door with a hand full of walnuts...she jumped down from the chair and met me at the door. She backed up as I walked to the edge of the porch to leave the nuts in the usual place. She got the edge, looked down and dropped. I left the nuts and said,"There's your nuts...I'm going in now." My daughter laughed becuz Scrawny peaked over the edge of the porch, saw I was gone, then went around to the side and walked up the steps. I love that squirrel!

So, in the morning (well, later 'today') I will be off to the college, then I have to stop and get my Mom's b-day present and get home, pack and away we go. I will not be near my puter again until Monday sometime. I will answer comments then. Next week looks like a killer!

Everyone have a GREAT weekend! Let's hope we survive the storms and the heat.

I actually got some computer time and while I may be feeling guilty sitting on my arse at this computer instead of doing something else (lord knows I have enuff to do!) I am just sitting here, taking some deep breaths, and trying to enjoy my moment.

I am in super anxed mode right now. I have my 'lists' going! Mostly in my head...but things have to be coordinated! The kids start back to school exactly 2 weeks from today. I have to re-register my daughter at the middle school this afternoon...get her signed up in classes. Then there will be the open house..usually two days before school starts...so she can run through her schedule, find her rooms, I can meet her teachers...and I will be sending them all e-mails...and telling them in person...DO NOT publicly embarrass my daughter. You shouldn't do that to kids ANYWAY. Some teachers are so insensitive. Last year, she forgot her math book on the second day of math class, and the teacher made fun of her in front of the whole class...and that was the end of that. Her anxiety went into the zone of no return. Could not get her to school after that. We TRIED...same result as her brother. So, I withdrew her, put her in cyber school and gave her doctor 10 months to find the right medication and dosage for her. Luckily, it only took 6. If I want her to stay there, it is imperative that her teachers do NOT embarrass her like that. Medication only does so much. She needs to learn how to deal.

Took TJ's car in to have it checked out. The front end was making a 'familiar' noise. I called my dad Sunday and described it to him...when it happened, etc. He kinda brushed me off...but I know my dad...give him some time to think about it...when he's ready...and he would know. He has always been good with cars. I also KNEW what that noise was...but couldn't pick it out of my dense mass that I call a brain. So...took it into the car dealer and made them put it up on the rack. The best they could say was it was either a wheel bearing OR struts. BINGO! I called my dad, he answered I said, "Struts"...that's it..nothing more. He said, "yep." Then he asked me if the car bounced. I said, "No...that's what throws me off!" He said, "put some penetrating oil on the bolt on top...lots of penetrating oil...let it seep in...then take it for a ride with lots of corners...that should do it." So, we did that. Yep. Noise gone.

TJ goes to his new school Thursday to pick up his schedule, explore for his classrooms, and I get the pleasure of dropping a TON of money. It is worth it though. With school required shirts and fees it is costing me $258. Just for him to GO there. To START. There will be other things...but getting him out of the house, into a program that will MAKE him WANT to go to school, get training for his future...I'd take out a freaking LOAN for that! It is sssoooo worth it!

And me...I have to take a 7 day workshop to MAKE SURE I am able to handle an online course...or two...just so I don't have to go to the actual college everyday. Is that nuts or what? Any way for them to get their money! I also have to test out of 3 computer classes. sheesh.

Have a family wedding to attend this weekend...back home. The daddy's niece is getting married. Outdoors..in the park. Just how does one dress for such a thing? All I know is...I'm not pulling out anything grand. Summer casual type skirt and shirt and sandals oughta do it...right? I have no clue.

Yesterday was my mom's b-day. 72. She is the kind of person that has always kept track of most of the other ppl's b-days in church and given them cards or did something special. There is this woman, Sheryl, that is in her 60's, I believe...a widow. For Sheryl's last b-day mom arranged for the ladies of the church to meet at a local restaurant with Sheryl for her b-day. Afterwards they went back to my parents' house for cake and little gifts. Mom said Sheryl broke down and cried and said it was the first birthday party she'd ever had in her life. My mom, and everyone else, was stunned. She said, "That is just sad. That woman has NEVER had a birthday party."

So, at church yesterday, the minister announced Mom's b-day. Sheryl was embarrassed becuz she had lost track. And no one gave mom so much as a card. Like Mom said, she never gave the cards out to get any in return. It was just a gesture...but she is always doing things for others to give them a little smile. And it is nice if just once in a while, someone, just one person, would return the favor. So, after evening church, which my parents didn't attend, Sheryl stopped with a gift bag and a whole pile of cards. Mom said she was opening the cards and realized what Sheryl did. Sheryl keeps boxes of cards for 'whatever and whenever'. Mom says Sheryl took one of her boxes of cards with her to church and handed them out, made ppl sign them, then she brought them over. At least Sheryl was trying...and she appreciated my mom.

Mom also told me something that I really would like to pass on...this is the most amazing thing! My dad is allergic to bee stings. This summer he has removed the old wood siding from their house and is putting on vinyl siding...by himself...no help...73 years old. He's like that...dropped enuff weight to get his blood pressure under control. ANYWAY...one of the guys at church told Dad to keep a penny in his pocket and if he got stung, hold the penny on the sting for 10-15 minutes and it would be gone. Mom said Dad got stung TWICE on Saturday, sat down each time and put the penny on the sting and held it there for about 15 minutes...and the sting was completely gone! Like it never happened! See...pennies are priceless after all!