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.

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?

Spring

Both because Cele said "show me your flowers" or something along those lines and because I'm going to start posting pics of the house as we get it closer to Housewarming, here's a picture of our backyard, well, part of it anyway.

The person who owned this house before us did a great job of landscaping and planting bulbs. I've never been patient enough to plant bulbs so this may be the last year the yard looks like this. But we'll see.

We're off to the Pinewood Derby tonight, Little Bit is fully prepared for his 2nd annual run for the money. Or the trophy. Whatever. As my sister Ms. Hyde says, "It's that time of year and we're all burned out on Scouts". I know I am, I will be glad when Little Bit shuts down for the Summer. This may cause a fainting spell, but other than the weird Mormon prayers, I kind of like how the Ward did it compared to how disorganized things are here. But no, we're not going to the local Ward Scout troop. I've heard enough Mormon prayers for a lifetime, thankyouverymuch.

Have a great weekend!

Why Am I So Tired?

I know why I'm so tired. I keep cramming everything in to a too-short time period then being exhausted from all the effort.


Case in point - I tried to take down the border of wallpaper in Little Bit's bathroom today. I know that a true fiend put up this wallpaper, because Little Bit's room was horrendous. However, I bravely attempted it, thinking, "Oh, it's just a border". A border put up by Satan himself, my friends. It's mostly down now but it really took up most of the day.


A day in which I needed to catch up on laundry, housework, try to get my profile set on the new Wii Fit (I know, just what the boys needed, more electronics but Mom went along with it because she got a Fit), go to a meeting at Little Bit's school (he is doing TREMENDOUSLY well here, it's a true blessing that we got the school we got), grocery shopping, dinner cooked and get ready for Scouts. Like I said, I know why I'm tired.


As well, we were out of town most of the weekend because TH, Big Bit and Little Bit had all never been to Yellowstone. I figured that the Bits were understandable but who has ever heard of a 45 year old man who lived all of his life 6 hours from Yellowstone who'd never been there? So we went, and it was beautiful. Lots of snow still, but we saw some animals - no bears, boo!







The boys enjoyed it, overall, even with being in the car for hours. I was impressed with how well they got along.

Pictures to come of more, but this is what I could get out for now - time to go have a glass of wine and a deep breath before dealing with thirteen 10-11 year olds at Scouts. Whew.

Random Monday Thoughts

Bob Geldof wrote a good song (one of only two good songs I think he ever wrote) called "I Don't Like Mondays". Well said, my man, well said. I hate them (the ones I have to work, anyway, I get every other one off and those are GREAT days).

• The Wolf Pack lost Saturday night, and while they looked brilliant in stretches, they are a very young team who was overmatched by Utah State. Note to ESPN2 announcers for future reference: I DO NOT CARE IF A PLAYER ON A UTAH STATE TEAM IS A RETURNED MISSIONARY WHO TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND BY RETURNING TO THE CHURCH. Mentioning it once - I guess okay. Mentioning it FIVE HUNDRED TIMES - Not Acceptable! Plus, the guy is 26 years old - I have a huge problem with the advantage that gives teams. It's definitely one of the reasons that Utah and BYU have successful football programs. The two best players on Nevada's team are freshmen, and I believe that in a couple of years, the Pack may return to its not so long ago Sweet Sixteen form.
• Cousin Steve DOES still exist, is NOT married or engaged and DOES have a blog. Like most little brothers, if you torment him long enough, you get the desired reaction, in this case, contact. I've updated my "Steve Magnum" link for those of you that would find a picture of a half-naked Sylvester Stallone interesting. Personally, I still think he's old. Sylvester Stallone, not Steve. Though he isn't getting any younger either. (Yes, Steve's blogging about a movie, it's not that kind of site). Looking forward to more posts from this recent convert to the blog world. I am so tired of a) rain; b) clouds and c) snow. I want spring, and I want it now!!
• I want the necessary work on our house to be finished. TH is putting a tub enclosure in our upstairs bathroom so it will have a shower and I want it done already. The blessing is that he found a job so fast when we moved, the curse is that all of this improvement stuff is taking forever unless I hire Cousin Shawn to do it and we are only so flush with cash.
• The Idaho state legislature needs to pull their heads out of their patooties and start doing what's right, instead of what's Red. The two don't always coincide, though sometimes, of course, they do.

I think those are all of the random thoughts I have right now. Hope everyone has a good week!