Lost in Idaho

Yes, you used to call me lostinutah, but these days I seem to be lostinidaho. Not in the same sense, but I know I've been remiss in trying to write anything whatsoever or comment on others blogs. Though I see some other people are having the same problem. :)

What has been going on? I don't know that it's anything specific...a tad bit of laziness, no doubt, but also just life being life and me ending up watching David Letterman, seeing the Top 10 list and realizing I'm going to be just as tired in the morning as I was the morning of the current day.

The job has been...the job. I've had a couple of nasty surprises in the last week that don't threaten my employment but do seem to confirm that it will lack the thing I like about my field - creativity. Not that I've been allowed to have much anyway, but what I did have is slowly being eliminated by our Corporate structure. (Not at me, mind you, just generally.) I have applied internally for a job that I think I would love, that is a stretch opportunity but one I had some exposure to in Utah. The person I would work for I think I would truly love to be around - she and I have bonded over our children are both going to that fine institution next year I've mentioned previously. We'll see - the recruiter for the job (same guy that was my recruiter for this job) seems to think I'll get an interview at least but the wheels of justice turn slowly.

Memorial Day weekend was a blur. We went to friend Renee's party (lots of fun) but first...we acquired a new family member.

This is Mario, our new evil pet. (Those of you who parent or grandparent Ninentdo addicts will get the name.) He is a 2 year old Beagle, who was a stray at the shelter and we nabbed him. We were going to wait until we got back from our trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate Big Bit's graduation but Beagles don't come through the shelter very often so we nabbed him. Friend Ra will watch him while we're in Reno and a little bit of the D.C. time when Mom is on a Harley ride to Elko.

We also went (late) to my uncles(s) and aunt(s) anniversary party. A supposedly brief lunch at Flatbread Pizza went sadly awry. In addition, I hate really paper-thin crust pizza. Shan't be back. Sorry to the family for showing up for the last 1/2 hour but I did enjoy seeing everyone. Then, we got to go see the new house my dad is having built. It's small, but cute, and when he retires and can't live in his company-provided housing anymore he will have a nice place to live. Sorry, no pics, but once it's done I'll nail some down.

Now - getting ready for graduation (I AM OLD) and our trip to DC. Big Bit has been another distraction (though always welcome) - he was having extreme bouts of senioritis and resenting authority (granted, the authority he was resenting I couldn't live with, so totally understood). To his credit, he got through it all and is great, but I appreciated the fact he wanted to talk to me about it all. I don't take that for granted by any means. Sometimes you see parents and their children grow apart and you wonder - how does that happen? I'm not sure. I don't want to experience it with my kids, so I plan on working hard at appreciating their worlds, even when I don't agree with them.

Back on a Sunday, Big Bit's college orientation on a Monday and then - off to D.C.! We were fortunate enough to score White House tour tickets through Senator Crapo - now if I just see an Obama I'll have a big grin on my face. I know. As if. And I know he's not perfect, okay? Thank you. Looking forward to seeing all the wonderful, inspiring sights that I've seen briefly on work visits to the D.C. area and much more that I've never been exposed to.

I also hope to meet up with Holly and Kris, a couple of ladies met through the blogosphere - we'll see how things shake out but it might be a lot of fun.

So, while I've been totally offline, I haven't been inactive. Hope all is well with everyone's world as well.

Talk Thursday: Endings...and Beginnings

Yep, I set the topic again, so I feel obligated to write. I have written on other's topics (maybe twice, to my shame) so I don't feel like I'm totally favoring myself. :)

Usually, endings are sad. The last few years I've had some that are happy, and some that are sad.

Happy Endings:

Leaving Utah

Child Support

Sad Endings:

My grandmother's passing

My doggie's passing

Beginnings are always more optimistic - there's so much room for opportunity to hope and dream about how things will turn out. The beginning we've experienced over the past few years are well documented on this blog.

When you get into your 40's, it's a little harder to find beginnings, frankly, at least for me. My kid's lives are really still beginning and that's fascinating, but it's their lives, not mine. I might start another new job in the next few years - but more and more, as friend Shawn says, the time I (and he) spent at the Mothership working for Jenny looks like an aberration in one's career, not a constant. Everything else has been a job. I've been with TH for almost 16 years and all signs point to it's going to last (thankfully!). I'm not moving ever again, I've decided, so that's out. Let's face it, I am truly the picture of your middle aged Mom.

But....

One thing that has happened is, in a way, a beginning for me. Big Bit has chosen a college. He is going to go to the College of Idaho, the fine institution I wrote about previously and which I attended for all of one semester. Because of the cost (private school = $$$) and because like me as a college freshman he doesn't feel like he would live well in a dorm, he's going to live with us. It's about a 25 mile drive one way, but trust me, the gas in his car (Honda Civic) in no way compares with the cost of living on campus, and he needs to stretch his dollars to last as long as possible.


Since he started school, we've had Big Bit with us a lot - during year round school, probably 4 months total or more of the year, summers during middle schools, weekends frequently etc. (Of course, prior to that I had him full or half time at least). He spent his freshman year in Utah with us, which was wonderful, but it ended badly (not because of anything he or I did, but a third force if you know who I mean) and he went back. He was worried for me and him if he stayed with me.

Now, he's an adult, or as Little Bit put it "He can do whatever he wants, can't he Mom?"

So, in an odd way, Big Bit's graduation, which is an ending, is a beginning for both him, and me. I don't look at him coming to school here as "I win" or anything like it. He picked a school he wants to go to, and we happen to live near it. It saves him money to live here, so he will have less student loan debt at the end.

But still, it's going to be fun to see college through his perspective. I hope he handles it all far, far better than I did. I think, in spite of his shyness that I fully share (and more) that he will be able to enjoy school and not do something stupid like get married (too soon).

Now to go see about selling a kidney to pay for school, as well as the new roof that we weren't supposed to need for 3 more years (augh). That is all.

PAID IN FULL

As of yesterday....I have experienced an epic event. I PAID MY LAST CHILD SUPPORT CHECK. EVER. EVER. EVER.

Well, let me restate that. I have paid the last dime I have to pay that benefits someone other than my child more than my child himself. Let me clarify a bit. Actually, since January I have been paying Big Bit directly, as I had stated my preference to do so starting with his birthday and EHFH actually said (via Big Bit, of course) that it was fine to start early. So, this year hasn't been too bad.

However, it was a really weird feeling to mail that check yesterday. I am not glad Big Bit is grown up, mind you. (at least not all the time, most of the time I'd like him to be 7 again, and his brother a newborn - they were so stinking cute and one didn't talk back and the other couldn't!) Whether a child lives with you full time or not, that sensation of leaving the nest is one that I think is universal. It's an odd feeling to know he's in charge of his decisions and consequences and as of mid-June, whether he goes to school any further or not.

Also, I do not dispute the obligation of a "non-custodial" (term makes me laugh, 'cause kids, there's been a whole lot of "custodial" duties I've continued to perform through the years, from dental visits, to braces, to immunizations, to haircuts - all fun for me, actually) parent to pay money to the other in order to benefit the child. My beef was more around the fact I far rather would have put it into a college fund, which would be approximately twice the size of the check that Big Bit's other parent has given to him for college. And yes, he could afford to do without the money. As did I - when Big Bit lived with us in Utah, every cent I received went straight to his college fund. He was amazed at how much I'd actually accumulated from that time alone.

It's a really liberating feeling to know that from now on, ANYTHING I do for Big Bit financially is because I want to, because we've discussed it, and because it makes perfect sense (hopefully, anyway). I think I feel a little at loose ends. Odd.

Money, and Big Bit, have been the things that have tied me to EHFH for 16 years longer than I wished to be. I know I wasn't going to write about him anymore, but this is really about me. And how all shackles are off now. All I HAVE to do is enjoy and continue to have a relationship with my beloved firstborn. I feel like I'm 27 again. Anything's possible.

I leave you with this thought. He Thinks He'll Keep Her, indeed.

Just Sayin'

Epic Fail, and other updates

I have been a total sloth in my posting. I haven't "Talk Thursday"d, I haven't randomly rambled, I haven't done anything.

But, I have news to report. Today, my firstborn got an acceptance letter from the College of Idaho, the fine establishment I attended for only a semester, then was stupid enough to leave. And a scholarship. A good one. Not a great one, but one that levels the playing field with his other two options. Which means he really has OPTIONS. (Oh, and a much better one than I got when I went there.) Yeah!

And, I must admit, listening to him talk, I was suddenly sixteen again, looking at a letter and reading the words "The College of Idaho is pleased to inform you you've been accepted for admission as a freshment for the fall of 1983 semester". Or something along those lines. And knowing, suddenly, that you have a future. And options.

Folks, it's a great feeling. For both of us.

Now to see what he ends up getting from everyone. I may end up disappointed from my own selfish perspective. But I think he got some idea of what you can accomplish in life if you take college seriously. More seriously than I did, for sure.

Isn't it great, parents, when you get that just blissfully happy feeling for your children?

Just a Thought

I had a post about forgiveness and how I would be working on that. I am not posting this update to mention He Who Must Not Be Named, but rather to note the following: I can't believe a parent would be so short-sighted, stupid and uncaring of said child so as to refuse to fill out the FAFSA.

Rather than do my usual mother-bear imitation and engage in a fight with said HWMNBN, thinking that somehow I could change behaviors and "win", thus perpetuating the whole hatred thing mentioned before, I realized this was the desired reaction, didn't engage, called various schools and found out that I could indeed complete it, so I did that...problem solved, I hope.

And instead of anger, I felt pity that someone could be that selfish and short-sighted. That's progress.

Hopefully that's the last of those little encounters.

Talk Thursday - Long Time Gone

"You're a long time gone...keepin' your secrets for too long. Baby, you ain't half of what you used to be....in this dim October sky, I've got no tears left to cry...And I'm finally learning you can't be too strong....I'm a long time gone" - Gin Blossoms, Long Time Gone.

Well, since it's my topic...I'd better write on it.

I went to church Sunday, as I do most Sundays (not all, sadly, in the winter I am a sloth who has trouble rising before 9 when the sun comes up unless it involves going somewhere warm or getting paid to show up to work). As one of the ladies I work with says, I don't go to church so much because I think I have to in order to keep my faith, but I'd hate to see what kind of person I'd be if I didn't go. She said that about her, not me. I think.

I had already sent out the topic, and had some idea of what I would write about. But then it was the Women's service at the church as happens once a year. Yeah, you'd think I'd know that. But I'm not terribly involved other than showing up, worshiping and giving money. Lutherans aren't the most friendly bunch in the world, and while I really like our Pastor, who's in his early 30s and, for a Pastor, fairly liberal in his ideas, I don't fit in with his "group" who are about his age, and I don't fit in with the older people, (i.e. anyone 10 years older than me) because they just seem very comfortable with each other, and despite the fact they've seen my mug on and off for 15 years, they don't seem to interested in pursuing a conversation, and as I've mentioned before I'm shy. (note to Kristi - when Shane has a church, make darned sure you go talk to that nice lady in her early 40's who's standing off to the side and isn't quite sure how to proceed. She'll love you for it).

So, anyhoo, there I am in church, led by the ladies, and very nicely, too. Then the woman who was doing the sermon got up. And, kids, she rocked my world. I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I thought I knew at first, but now I'm not sure how to pull it off.

What I've taken from my experiences a "Long Time Gone" is that you can do something with the best of intentions and be brutally, totally, and completely punished for it. Due to my not being the primary custodial parent the majority of the time since Big Bit started school, I've had everything from people who broke off conversations upon finding out my situation to "family" members saying (though not to my face, of course) that I was probably unfit or at the very least an extremely poor mother for not being in the same town as my child. (Please note, one of these family member should be investigated by Child Protective Services, and I'm not the only person who thinks that. So I thought she had a lot of nerve. No, she doesn't read this, so it's not any of you). I had someone tell me when I announced I was pregnant "Oh (bleep)". I took this as an assumption that I would not be able to keep custody or raise a second child effectively.

In fact, I will note for the historical record, there has never been any allegation I'm unfit. I just had the cojones to stand up for myself, and to some guys, that is enough of a crime.

I knew my truth, why I did make certain decisions and not others. Certain decisions were made by "independent" third parties who at the end of the day didn't seem independent at all. I've made my peace with that part of it, as it were. I don't claim to be without blame. I have plenty and I take responsibility. But I can't stand to even hear EHFH's voice anymore.

The woman, who had also been through a bad divorce, though one with different parameters than mine, said that you have to forgive. Not for the other person, but for yourself. I've heard this before, in other times and places, but this time it really hit me. Whether you believe in Christianity or you think it's bunk, this is a precept that does make a lot of sense.

You see, Friday is Big Bit's 18th birthday. I've been going through this crap for SIXTEEN YEARS. Let me repeat: SIXTEEN years. And while when I got divorced I had no hard feelings as such towards EHFH, he has made it his mission over the last SIXTEEN years to make my life a living hell whenever possible. His actions have pretty much made what affection remained morph into something pretty close to hatred. And while he hasn't always succeeded in his quest, he's succeeded enough to make me more than regret giving him that power. If you add in our married and divorced time, it's coming up on 25 years. That's a lifetime.

So I resolve to forgive on Sunday night. And I'm feeling very "Christlike in my love and forgiveness" to paraphrase the Church (not my Church but "the one true Church"). Then Big Bit calls me last night to talk to me about his FAFSA that has to be filed so he can get qualified for his scholarships, private grants, etc. He and his father are yelling at each other. Not screaming, but yelling pretty loud. I flashback to being afraid, with a two year old in a diaper in my arms, backing up towards a refrigerator, with a very enraged man in my face. I tell Big Bit that I have to get off the phone.

"Call me when you're done". I know it's not serious, honestly. I know they're just both mad, not violent in any way. Big Bit is 6 foot tall and at least 185 lbs. But it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Then, when Big Bit calls back, and I explain that I couldn't stay on the phone because it was creeping me out, he has the raw nerve to say "You aren't good with confrontation".

Oh, I'm good with confrontation, son. I held you in my arms ready to defend you to the end with your dad screaming in our faces. I'm glad you don't remember. I confronted 12 hours of labor only to go through major surgery to have you. And I'm glad I did. I bought my lawyer a freakin' Corvette to try and keep you with me. I'm just not good with screaming.

It's obviously hard to forgive. But it's a long time gone, and I'm tired of secrets. And yelling. It is time to forgive. Wish me good luck, I'm going to need it.

Other than posting pics of Big Bit's graduation which may include pictures of him, this is the last time I will mention that man, forgiveness or no. It's time for that as well.

Life Altering Truths

Cele invited me to be part of Talk Thursday. I've followed this for a while - a topic is suggested by one of the contributors and then everyone writes on this subject (am I missing anything Cele?).

I've found the entries really enlightening. I'm a bit hesitant here because, well, sometimes things get disclosed in the contributions, as I've seen. But here goes and we'll see how I go with this. At any rate I thank Cele for the invite.

I'm somewhat of a believer in something of a life altering truth - epiphanies. I've had a few in my life and they honestly have always led me to the better, or to the worse if I've ignored them. I haven't had one in a while but I'll never turn one down. I can always use some guidance. I prefer to think of it as Divine Guidance but you can call it what you will.

I think maybe the first life altering truth I had is when I realized I didn't want to be married anymore. Let me be clear - when I got married I meant to be always. Most everyone does. However, most everyone, hell, anyone, shouldn't be 18 when they get married.

I don't think I got married for the "right" reasons because I was too young to know what the "right" reasons felt like. I was shy, skinny, had a "prominent" nose as my friend Karee used to say and when a guy who seemed to have a sparkling personality, athletic grace and a propensity to like me came along, I jumped. I was already engaged to a wonderful guy who did not deserve me (and I mean that in the best way, he would have been miserable). What the hell was I thinking that I was ready to make such decisions? But EHFH's confidence was irresistible and he reminded me of my high school boyfriend James (of the infamous Facebook incident) who, as I look back on it now, treated me as if I didn't deserve him (in the worst possible way) and I just put up with it. For a few years, actually.

If you looked at me from the outside, you would have said I was a damn lucky kid (and you would have been right). Brand new car as an 18th birthday present, okay grades, some good friends, size 3 jeans (I KNOW!) and a pretty bright future. But I still felt awkward and like I didn't fit in. EHFH seemed to save me from all that because he promised in some odd way that I "belonged".

My friend Renee has a daughter who got married a little later than I did in life, but not much, and she, like me had an agenda: get married. finish college. have a baby once financially able to support baby. have another baby two years later. have a nice big house...blah, blah, blah. (Actually, her daughter is much less shallow than I think I was at that age and has accomplished most of these things anyway). But for anyone to think life can be planned out is nonsensical. You can try, but you aren't in control of anything, really.

After the "first" baby, certain things became painfully clear. Eighteen year olds, really, are all very, very much alike. Twenty-six year olds are not. For the first time in my life I saw my full potential not just as a mother and a wife to someone who considered me an equal partner but in my career, life choices and so on as well. And I knew I needed more. And yes, I deserved more. It may sound selfish, but I really don't look at it that way. It would have been very selfish to the EHFH and to Big Bit to remain in a relationship that had become untenable. It probably would have destroyed me ultimately as well.

I won't go into detail on what precipitated the epiphany, because I'm not especially proud of all aspects of my behavior, but let me state clearly that once I had that epiphany I moved quickly to do the right thing, and let both of us try to get to what we really wanted in life and provide Big Bit a more stable environment. For this, in many ways, I've been punished financially, emotionally and socially. I am proud of the fact that Big Bit has been with us a lot, in fact lived with us for a while and that I've been an effective parent to him. We have a bond that I am not sure would be any stronger if he'd never left my roof.

But I stand by my decision, and for me, the life altering truth is this - as Andie MacDowell said in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" - "As John Lennon said, who died the same year as my father, All You Need is Love."

Real, mature love. Some people who marry as teenagers or barely over can make this transition. Many, many can not. And I still think I made the right decision. My divorce/custody attorney said to me, after we didn't get custody of Big Bit when he started school - "Tell me this, would you rather still be married to him?"

No contest, Steve. You may have not proven to be a great attorney, but at that moment, when I was at an all time low, you gave me another life altering truth. And I would need it going forward.

It's Finally Summer

I can tell summer is finally, finally, here. I'm actually outside much of the time, which wasn't the case in Utah (when you live in the 'burbs where it's 100 degrees or feels like it and there's no shade or real river to cool down in, you don't go out. Trust me). Therefore I'm not blogging much, or commenting on others much (but I do check them). Facebook updates are easy and quick and then I'm out the door again.

We are still working on the boys' bathroom (the project that will never end). I think it's getting done Sunday or TH will be banned from watching NASCAR. That ought to motivate him.

I've managed to sprain my ankle (getting up from lunch, it sucks to get old) and then resprain it walking to my car at work (did I mention it sucks to get old?) but I won't let it deter me from being out, walking, riding a bike etc. Which is probably why I sprained it again. I did buy a brace last night in a nod to getting old and needing to heal.

Our activities so far this summer? Little Bit got to go to an air show in...shudder...Utah. I didn't take him though (Pattie did)so he didn't experience the hives and hyperventilation that would have accompanied his mother's re-entry to the state. And he got to see Grandpa, Pattie and Jazzie in addition to other extended family types. He's enjoying his first real summer break ever.

Of course, TH, Big Bit and I got to see Rick Springfield as well as catch up with a couple of my old Reno friends, Alynn & Stephanie. That was fun. Unfortunately Rick didn't get as close as last time I saw him, so I don't have as good a picture. But Big Bit got to see a bunch of screaming 40 year olds pretend they were age 17 again. Which is never boring. I think he laughed a lot.






We got to see Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe, which we hadn't in years.








Big Bit looks so grown up. I hate it.






We've been to the first two Alive After Fives. I absolutely love this event, which is free each Wednesday (at 5, duh) in downtown Boise and gives you the opportunity to listen to interesting music, watch VERY interesting people (the guy in the dress who dances the whole evening, for instance) and for Little Bit to get very, very wet. He almost got to be on the Channel 2 news as well except for the idiots showed the guy in the dress instead of cute kids.







The garden is planted (yay!) and the Irises have bloomed, and faded, but I did get some pictures.

And, we've been enjoying this new visitor to our house, however, the bush he prefers is losing its blossoms so we're going to have to put a feeder out. He's just too much fun to watch - I don't want to lose him.

How is your summer going so far?

Isn't it Friday Yet?

Here's the sad thing. I had my day off Monday, ended up having a killer allergy attack Tuesday so I was home sick and this is my second day at work this week, yet it seems like the longest. week. ever.

I don't know why - other than the allergies everything's gone well, Scouts is finally over for the summer and there's no homework until the end of school so Little Bit is easily handled but it's just been long.

I think I'm ready for vacation and that isn't for another month.

I guess I'll have to settle for next weekend's festivities. Big Bit is going on vacation with EHFH for two weeks the moment school is out, so we're going to see him in Reno; that way, Mom doesn't have to go more than three weeks without seeing her firstborn (well, I think he misses me too).

During the weekend, Big Bit, TH and I are going to see my obsession. You remember him, don't you?



That's what I thought. Of course you do. He's still better than Aaron Carter.

Happy Memorial Day.

And Now For a More Serious Message

I'm feeling kind of melancholy. I think it was brought on by going to this college for a campus visit with Big Bit yesterday. He seemed to like it, and the fact we were there on a campus visit was probably enough to inspire melancholy.

I went to this fine institution my first semester of college, but I was socially inept at 16 (I know, I know, I was 16, what did I expect?) and when the first set of friends I made didn't work out, I didn't know how to go make new ones. They were a close knit bunch, it's a very small college and I hadn't met enough people in classes to make new friends easily, plus I lived off campus so I didn't know as many people as I might have otherwise. I left at semester and headed back to my hometown and to the junior college there, where I ended up meeting the EHFH and...there you go.

So it was weird to be strolling around that campus yesterday for the first time in, oh, about 25 years (have I mentioned lately that I'm old?) and remembering how excited I was to be there and how stupid I was to leave. How the last time I remember walking into that cafeteria was to tell a guy I'd gone to junior high with that his good friend (my cousin, who Big Bit is named for) had died the previous night. Some of the buildings looked much different. Unfortunately that one didn't look different enough. I could still see him sitting there and the look on his face when I told him the news as I surveyed that room.

Life goes how it goes, and as Frank Sinatra says "I did it My Way" so I don't have a lot to complain about - I was a smart kid who made some dumb choices along the way, no one made them for me. Sometimes I forget to give myself credit for overcoming those bad decisions to live in a house I like, in a town I love, with a husband and two sons who love me, even if I could be or have been a better wife and mother along the way.

Okay, enough heavy thoughts. I don't get like this often, thankfully. For you, dear readers, as well as myself.

Yeah!

Take that, Utah! One vehicle down, one to go...

A busy week at work and it should be a busy weekend at home but today I'm going skiing with friend Ra, then Little Bit has a party to attend. After that, I'll probably buckle down to some home related things and getting ready for the Easter Bunny to come tomorrow. I'm going to be really sad when the Easter Bunny doesn't come anymore. Hopefully he'll stick around for a while.

Big Bit comes tomorrow for his Spring Break. His prom is tonight (who in the hell schedules Prom the first day of Spring Break?). I bought him a boutonniere (probably spelled wrong) from the florist in Reno who did my wedding bouquet for the 2nd wedding. He said it turned out great. I guess it's hard to screw that up eh?

Ta ta for now - have a great weekend!

I Found The Camera Cable

Well, TH found it. Or maybe he just knew where it was all along. Whatevs. So, I've got some pictures to share:

This is the view a few hundred yards from our house. I like very much.



The animal conspiracy lives. This guy comes and eyes me while I'm eating lunch.


"Who you looking at, you?"



Actually, he's irritated because I bought a squirrel proof bird feeder for these guys:



Pretty, aren't they?



Big Bit was here this weekend, rocking the Zac Efron look. I guess it looks okay, but he sure is a nice looking kid without having to take the time to straighten his hair. You can see that Little Bit was happy to see him.





Little Bit took his first communion this weekend. It's not a "big deal" like it is in the Catholic church, but he had been thinking about it for quite a while, he has enough questions to stump a theology professor. Which is good, I guess, because it meant he'd put a lot of thought into doing the whole communion thing before he actually did it. I certainly don't claim to have all the answers, I just share what I believe with him and it kind of will go from there where it will go. His dad isn't into organized religion, so he definitely has an example of the fact that you can have a good marriage, be tolerant of each other's beliefs and so on.





Finally (because it's lunchtime and I have to go back to work, here's what goes on most of every afternoon in our yard - Siamese Cat vs. Ninja Squirrel. Who will win?


We'll find out....

Must Keep Reminding Self

Kelly Clarkson has a point. (embedding disabled, sorry).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bap-oZI-Grc

Happy Birthday

Update - per t2ed - since my real computer is not yet operational, I can't scan and publish an embarassing photo. However, I find this one of "Diddy" very fun indeed. So here's a photo to accompany the post.

Happy Birthday to my firstborn, Big Bit - who is 17 years old on February 5.

Damn, I'm old.

But I am so proud of you, my little Big One!

News from foundinidaho

We've got some news to share, we do!

First - Homeboy made the Pro Bowl! Way to go Jordan!

http://www.idahostatesman.com/104/story/606361.html

Second - Little Bit turned in his last assignment before Christmas Break - a diorama for Idaho History about Native Americans. There were of course several tribes to pick from but he picked my favorite (without me saying a word) the Nez Perce. Yes, he actually did a lot of work on this including mapping out the locations, helping glue and build as well as placing the horses and people. Granted, the people were from the dollar store so they were pretty stereotypical of the old Wild West movies, but hey, they said to only spend $5 on the supplies (Yeah, Right). Tomorrow night we go back to Winter Garden Aglow for his Pack meeting, although I am suffering from an ear and sinus infection (boo!) and it's supposed to snow tomorrow night, if we don't go we'll never hear the end of it. Hopefully my face won't be swollen up tomorrow night like I've been sucker punched.

Big Bit arrives Saturday and we will make a day trip to see my Dad, Pattie and my Grandmother. Little Bit turns 10 Sunday (OMG) so Grandma will be around for a small party. Next year - big party in the New House, which we signed papers on today. Back in debt we go! I promise a big housewarming party in the spring when we can enjoy the back yard.

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season, particularly Mr. Thomas Wayne (newborn baby of Cousin N - now I'm down to TWO pregnant cousins) - I hear it snowed up your way dude, glad you got a first white Christmas as your cousin Rory did. Not that you care any more than he did but at least your Mom and Dad can get some cool pictures for the baby book.

We'll try and post some photos from London, we're taking the laptop but I'm not sure how that will all pan out. We bought tickets to Spamalot on Boxing Day yesterday. Can't wait to see the Killer Rabbit yet again.

Happy Holidays!

It's My Birthday!

I refuse to say how old I am, but suffice it to say that many years ago today a 4th generation Idahoan was born in "Twin" (that's for Shinshige) and it's quite nice to celebrate my day in Idaho again! Even if I have to work on my birthday for the first time in eons.

Thanks to Dad and Pattie for the gift card, Mom and the Aunt for watching Little Bit while TH was in Utah! Tonight - drinks and snacks at Murphy's with the gang and Big Bit arrives on the "big airplane" where he lives when he's not with us (that's what Little Bit used to think when he was a toddler. He'd see a Southwest jet, point at it and say "Bubba's up there").

Then on to Halloween! Seriously, can things get any better? Oh, yes, TH can get the job some guy at a software company contacted him about this week. It would be simply awesome, and at least it's lovely that someone contacted him when they heard he was coming back because they had a job in mind. A nice compliment.

Have a good day everyone!

BatKid! And More.

BatKid was out in full force this weekend in anticipation of his Boo at the Zoo haul. We didn't get to spend as much time there as we hoped, but we scored a year membership, so we'll be back to see more of the animals.

Many years ago, we began going to Boo at the Zoo, taking Big Bit in his Simba costume (Lion King) etc., and there were people there, but nothing like now. They were limiting tickets to 13,000. I don't think they quite sold out, but it was truly insane. Even worse than the last time we went, which was I think three years ago. At any rate, it was worth it, because BatKid was in his element and we were at a nice zoo, which is adding giraffes and lions! I remember when the most exciting thing there was a porcupine.

BatKid in various poses:


First, battling EvilCat in the privacy of his home (EvilCat as opposed to Catwoman):



Next:

I'm wondering why I can't see my enemy? Where did they go? Oh, my mask is in my eyes:



What else? I took some pictures of the leaves turning from the sixth floor of my employer. Kind of pretty. (Note, I am on the first floor. I am okay with that, I hate heights).

Pretty huh?

Next up - I have a birthday, Big Bit is here for Halloween (he got to go to the Obama rally in Reno Saturday, whether you agree with the man or not, seeing him in person is a historic moment) and then as to the weekend, TH comes home for 10 days Wednesday night and we have a big yummy dinner at Epi's Basque Restaurant in Meridian Saturday night. Celebrating Mom's birthday, mine and just being home.

Miss Cocoa the dog is out of the hospital and doing well so far....Dad has to go to Utah for an appointment Thursday and to see what's next...

Oh, and TH might be working at Bogus Basin ski resort for the winter. He has a 2nd interview Saturday. Getting hired could pay the rent and get him a free ski pass - and then we are all good until April. Fingers crossed, please!

Mini-Updates

• Saw Dad last night - he looks much better than he did Wednesday. He can talk a little, had some lung issues that were unexpected but nothing that wasn't handled easily and he's already sitting up on the side of the bed. Hopefully walking a bit today and every reason to believe he'll be out of the hospital Monday or Tuesday. Big Bit's coming in tonight so it will be good for him to see his Grandpa. I don't think I'm going to let Little Bit in, the tubes etc. would scare him to death. He's already lost one grandparent, I don't want him to worry he might lose another.

• On another note - I have been told to expect a job offer either late this week (I guess that's today, eh?) or early next week. I'm hoping for the late this week - I'd like this to be over and know what we're going to do. Odds are, of course, that I will accept and that we will be preparing to move, but it all comes down to the Benjamins. Let's hope the Benjamins are ready to party with me.

Have a great weekend everyone! Oh, and happy public late birthday to Cousin Steve. I'm a shameful cousin, but it's not because I don't care. :)

Idaho News - and - A Wedding

First, before the meat of this post, I must say (and please note that 90% of my paternal family that's attended college went to the University of Idaho and that was my unfulfilled desire, so I'M JOKING ABOUT MOST OF THIS) - the fact that a Vice Presidential candidate for this year's election graduated from the University of Idaho is INTERESTING.

Although she attended said school at the same time as TH, it does not mean they dated (future Idaho Statesman inquirers, please note). I've already fended off that question and a request for the VIP tour of the White House from friend Steve the attorney today. (He was kidding, and he offered up gratitude that McCain picked a woman, although one as a gratuitous grab at Hillary votes. I agree. Then again, we're for Obama so if you don't agree with us, you will discount anything we say as totally biased anyway).

Considering the sorry state of the Vandal football team, and if that lends any meaning to this election (i.e. they lose a lot) I fear that any opportunity for a VIP tour would be out anyhoo. I also think that as it seems also that no one the Statesman could find so far that was at U of I at the same time as Ms. Palin remembers her is kind of weird. Heck, even Larry Craig gets remembered...oh, never mind.

I will note that back in the day there was a proper football team for the Vandals and they had an awesome QB named John Friesz, who could have been Brett Favre, except he played for a sucky team once he got to the pros and it turned out in that situation he was fragile. So maybe she's a winner because she's from that era. Obviously, I hope not.

Off the diversion to the real important stuff - The Wedding.

I'd said I would post about the wedding I went to during our last Weekend at Willie's. My cousin on my mom's side, "Gertrude", (my dad's pet name for her as a girl) has 23 year old twins (as of mid-August), and one of them, Z, was getting married at the Rose Garden in Julia Davis Park and while it meant we didn't leave for Utah until late Sunday afternoon, I really wanted to stick around for the nuptials.

Two reasons:

It meant we could stay "home" longer, got to sleep in (and we did), run a few more hurried errands, have lunch (I will not say where we went, because it's a chain, not even one that's local to Boise, but it's good and I was HUNGRY) and then get to go to the park for the wedding.

The other reason? Getrude and her (slightly) younger sister are the closest things I have to older sisters, even though we don't see each other as often as I'd like or stay as plugged in as I'd like. I lived 5 minutes from my cousin for years in Idaho, and we just didn't always keep in touch. Stupid.

The Rose Garden is where I would have gotten married to TH, except it ended up we got married on New Year's Eve, thusly that venue was a little cold and we ended up in Lake Tahoe. Maybe we can renew our vows or something later, at this place.

It is so pretty this time of year:






I don't have really any pics of the ceremony, because we ran over from parking on 8th Street and forgot the camera. However, we brought the car and the camera to the reception, also in the park.

Some pictures...first, of the groom and his groomsmen including his twin. Here's why they make me feel old. The week they were born, their aunt (who I shall dub "The Godmother or TG", since she is Big Big's godmother was getting married for the first time (of two), as was I. Gertrude made it to her sister's wedding, but not mine. Understandable, but as this wedding occurred 23 years almost to the week of her son's...I feel OLD. TG was in denial, I had to point out to her that those kids were the reason that her sister almost didn't make it to her wedding. She looked kind of shocked, then started to laugh. It sucks to get old, right Godmother?

The groom is kneeling. His twin is to the left with the green bottle in his hand. Beer, I ask you? Perhaps. Duh....

A few more snaps. Here's Gertrude. To end the mystery for my other pregnant cousins (at least two of whom lurk here from time to time), this is the fourth pregnant one. She's way ahead of you all though, she's due in about two weeks from now.

Without divulging her age, I'll just say she's a hair older than me. She and her SO are thrilled and she will be a great mom, since she already is. I'm in awe. I just couldn't deal with sleep deprivation anymore, so I'm looking forward to grandchildren in 15 years or so.

She looks great though! Here she is dancing with the groom.

What else...oh, yes, one of my many uncles was up from Arizona and he and my mom had a lot of fun. Love you Mom and Uncle Larry!



Don't get pictures of Grandma and the Bits very often, I realize this isn't the best picture in some ways, but it does illustrate why I kept calling Big Bit "P Diddy" all day...



Here's The Godmother and her husband. He rocks and she is cool. Man, I feel like a commercial for Bud Light around here! Count the cans in this post!


Another pic of "Diddy":

Last, and definitely not least, this day was about Z & K, the happy couple. Congratulations, and Z, I forgive you for your mom not making it to my first wedding. As things turned out, I wish I hadn't made it to the event either(!) in most respects (other than Big Bit). You guys, however, have a good relationship, good prospects and my prayers go out to you for a long and happy marriage.

They are cute, aren't they?

Happy Labor Day,

lostinutah