A Few Random Thoughts

Hey, guys, how is everybody out there?

Here's what's going on Chez Clueless.

We took a quick trip to Asheville to meet up with another China family. Had a blast. I am definitely getting better from Thyroid Terror, but I'm still so tired and my laigs still hurt. Back to the doctor tomorrow.

I'm dreading going back to work on August 6, but I'm also kind of looking forward to it. I love my job. I don't think I'll ever fully retire. I like the action.

We've all been hanging out together 24/7 and we're all getting bored. The kids are playing "school".

Thanks for all the great reading suggestions--my you guys are creative! I'm already using them. I never thought about using the function on the tv where the words appear--Awesome idea.

Everybody has already read Chew, but if you haven't, I suggest it. Chew has an interesting topic up. Are all children adopted internationally special needs simply by definition? I have thought a lot about that. There is no question that my girls were different people on Adoption Day than they would have been if I'd raised them since birth, but there have been no serious problems. My definition of special needs is a child who needs professional help to overcome a physical or mental obstacle. Under that definition, no, my kids weren't SN. Lots of kids are, though.

I've finished Harry, and I bawled my head off, and btw, it isn't BALLING my head off. I see that all the time on blogs and it makes me want to disembowel myself. Ok, I've got that off my chest.

I chopped off all my hair since it was falling out anyway due to Thyroid disease, and I got to witness a hilarious redneck throwdown at my upscale, stylish beauty salon (Walmart). Complete with cops and all. "Get out of my salon, you white trash ho!" were some of the more gentle exchanges. "You ain't getting your money back for your flatiron and haircut, you bitch!"

I like my hair. It's SASSY.

cyaltr. (Madeleine's now talking like text messages) Madeleine has discovered chat rooms and registered as something like hottie3428 and has struck up a friendship with a 13 year old named Alex. Needless to say I'm delighted/putting Net Nanny on her computer/yanking it out of her room/sending her to convent school/sending Alex an email informing him that hottie3428 has a daddy with a gun, a large farm, and a shovel.

I don't think Madeleine has a clue as to what "hottie" implies. I suggested that when she's 30 and gets to go online unsupervised, she might consider sweetinnocentwithagunowningexcopfather3434 instead.

Reading is FUNdamental

I love to read, always have. I read while driving (at stoplights) If I could figure out a way to read while taking a shower or engaging in marital relations, I would. (Perhaps a waterproof cover for both....hmmm).

Meredith is still struggling with reading. I was making her read a little every day for practice. She's quite an obliging child, but something occurred to me one day.

I want her to enjoy reading.

If someone made me run around the block (shudder) or play volleyball (double shudder) or cook every day (triple shudder) "to practice" wouldn't I develop a deep and intense hatred of it?

This reminds me somehow of a Dear Abby thread years earlier about piano lessons. Dear Abby firmly believed that kids should 1. take piano lessons and 2. be forced to practice. She got loads of letters from people who claimed that they were glad that Mom made them practice.

Well, blech.

I asked her.

"Do you think reading is fun?"

"No," she cheerfully replied.

I stopped making her practice. School starts in a month. Let her have a short break.

Am I doing the right thing? If you disagree, let me know!

Taken!

Ok, here's the deal.

Back in the 80s Roger bought a timeshare in Sapphire Valley, NC. I think he paid like $5,000 for it. It is the last week in September.

He got the big sales pitch--about how wonderful timeshares were and how, if you wanted to change resorts, why the corporation owning the timeshare was very understanding. You could change resorts each year free of charge! The corporation at the time owned a large number of beautiful resorts. And he did take advantage of this for a couple of years. However, now you have to pay an extra fee to change resorts, and it's a huge hassle.

It is a beautiful condominium. It's got a huge Jacuzzi that you can soak in and look at a stunning mountain view. It's very, very peaceful and has all the recreational stuff, tennis, golf, indoor swimming pool, horseback riding, etc. It has 2 bedrooms and foldout sofas, etc. I think you could sleep 8 people there.

But a week during school is at this point pretty much worthless for us at this point. We all are involved in school activities. Some of us attend school and some of us teach school and some of us go to school AND teach school and so you kind of get the point.

The timeshare is fully paid off now and you'd get a deed for it. FREE. It's all yours, for the rest of your life, and then you can pass it to your heirs. All we're asking is that you pay this year's regime fee, which is like $500, (this is a yearly charge) plus the fees to transfer the deed (I think about $100-we'd get a NC lawyer to draft the deed to you and file it at the courthouse). I haven't investigated the exact amount.

Here's some more info about the place: http://sapphirevalleyrentals.com/rentalrates.html

Anyone interested? Contact me at carolinagirls AT sc DOT rr DOT com!!

Stop Giving Me That Look

I don't think Roger will be easy to deal with when the girls start to date as teenagers. I am sure that will be an interesting time in our lives. But we still have a few years to go. Oh, the hijinks that will ensue! I can't stand the anticipation.

And then there is me, the warm, wonderful, always patient and loving, understanding mother of two amazing little girls. LITTLE GIRLS. Madeleine is EIGHT YEARS OLD.

Ok, so the kid has another little crush on a boy who was in her 3rd grade class. His name is...well, let's call him...um..Sam. Ok. So Madeleine is missing Sam. I suggested that we invite Sam's family over for a swim party. That would be Sam, his 11 year old brother, and his 6 year old sister. We met them at Madeleine's First Communion orientation meetings and they are very nice. Roger seems to feel that this is not a good idea. "She's too young for boyfriends," he states vehemently. Depending on his mood, this is the reaction.

If he's in a good mood, I get the Mildly Disturbed expression. Sort of the look you'd give a clueless, but well meaning, incompetent. Wait a minute..that wouldn't be me, would it? Naw..

If he's in a bad mood, I get the My Wife Is Insane look. You would think that I had suggested renting them a hotel room and handed her a box of condoms and some edible underwear.

"I had a boyfriend when I was eight," I told him. "In fact, we even planned our honeymoon. We were going to Niagara Falls. My cousin and I stayed up all night at that age giggling about our wedding. My bridesmaids were going to wear lavender chiffon. Didn't you have a little girlfriend at that age? It's just kid stuff." He just rolls his eyes. He rolls his eyes a lot.

Jeepers creepers!