1. My parents saved the best for last; I am the youngest of four children.
2. I was dressed as a gypsy when I applied for my marriage license.
3. With the exception of one 3-month stint when my husband was working earthquake claims in California, I have only lived in the state of Texas -- have, in fact, only lived in three houses my whole life (I don't count the couple of times in apartments while we were moving or "de-molding").
4. I love to read. Anything. I'm one of those people who will read a cereal box at breakfast, including the ingredients, if there's nothing else to read.
5. I hate math, yet I do payroll for 250 employees, and accounts payable, to the tune of about $100K/weekly.
6. The two things I truly dislike in people are cruelty and stupidity.
7. I love kid's soccer, little league baseball and high school football.
8. On February 12, 1993, a guy looked at me across a table at Spring Creek Barbecue and asked, "So what kind of wedding do you want?" When I recovered, I answered, "If I ever marry, my husband will be a Christian, and my children will be raised in the church of Christ." That was our first date, he was baptized by Mark Roberts about 8 months later, and we were married on November 5, 1993, also by Mark Roberts.
Well, the Horace Mann people haven't made a decision yet, so in the meantime, my hunny bunny is in Lafayette, LA -- well, technically, he's in Alexandria, which is about 80 miles from Lafayette. It's also the closest place he could find an empty room. Another adjuster he talked with was already headed to Louisiana when Gustav blew in; he asked the lady at the La Quinta if she'd work with him on the room rate, since he'd be there a while. Her answer? "I don't have to work with you. I can get $500 a night for that room if I want to." Sadly, she's right.
At any rate, he's hanging out in a ValuePlace room, waiting for his claims. And yes, Mark, those would be insurance claims filed by cats whose homes were damaged by the hurricane. :)
Lots of prayers for Charles, please. And me, too. I hate being a single mom. What makes it all the more trying, as if being without your other half isn't trying enough, is that both kids have things going on. All the time. In different places. The only times we are in the same place at the same time are at church, and at Scouts -- Boy Scouts for Harley, Brownies for Chloe and we meet at the same place on Mondays. After that, all bets are off.
So if anyone needs a 13- or 6-year old to borrow for a while, please don't hesitate to ask. One is very handy with a lawnmower. And XBox. And bringing home laundry that has that distinctive, one-of-a-kind, teenage athlete smell. The other is handy with...well, glitter and stuff like that. And talking. And pretending.
But you know what? In the midst of football and soccer practices and games, homework (ugh!), laundry, birthday parties and all the other myriad things going on in our life right now, there's always a few minutes for glitter, and XBox, and pretending.
Just got home from Chloe's first soccer game of the season....where it was at least 150 degrees. OK, I might be exaggerating a teeny bit. But it was pretty miserable for a bunch of kids running around out there in that hot Texas sun.
The game ended in a 3-3 tie, but I can live with that since Chloe blocked THREE goals, and had some pretty awesome kicks and passes. If I can just convince her that nobody will get their feelings hurt if she takes the ball, scores a goal or blocks their kick. If we can get that into her head, she'll be an amazing player.
On the other hand, having a kid who is always concerned with the feelings of others isn't all bad, is it?
Jordyn is the same way. She backs off when someone from the other team is coming up to the ball. Politeness is wonderful everywhere except the soccer field! So funny!
I have just finished filling out the plethora of absurd forms sent home by my daughter's elementary school. I filled Harley's out yesterday.
For those of you who don't have a junior high school student, let me enlighten you. In addition to the district code of conduct, which must be signed by every student and their parent/guardian (yes, even those who can't write, yet), EACH INDIVIDUAL TEACHER, has their own set of class rules, which -- you guessed it -- must be signed by the student and their parent/guardian. They also each have their own list of supplies each class is supposed to bring. (I think we're up to four boxes of tissues now.) Then there are the forms about, basically, whether or not your child(ren) lives in a house, a shelter, a car, etc. If they live in a house with their parent/guardian, you can sign the form and go on, without filling everything else out. The same goes for the form about migrant workers. Finally is the form about electronic communication; you have to give your child permission to use the internet at school.
Elementary is even worse. It's all of the above, PLUS a nurse card, which will be a record anytime your child goes to the nurse's office. For anything. Nosebleed, fever, puking, headache or teeny little invisible scratch. It goes on the card. Then there is tne "Teacher Information" form. This tells the teacher who your child is; name, nickname (does that include things like "goober"?), medical problems, hobbies and interests, etc. At the bottom, it has a place that says "Comments that will help us to better know your child", followed by several blanks. I always put, "You'll know my child because he/she is the most awesome, smartest, funniest, brightest, most talented, creative kid in the world." What else WOULD I put?
But the form that really prompted this particular blog, is that electronic communication permission form. The form tells me, and I quote, "The Internet is a network of networks." Seriously. It really says that. Would that be a redundance of redundancy?
What I love is that Morgan's school has you fill out all of the paperwork at the end of the school and then do it again at the beginning of the school year.
