Out of Thin Air

When I got to bed last night after a very long day, I realized I hadn't blogged. At that point, though, I had neither the energy nor the reason to get out of bed.

I had nothing to say.

If only we could write or draw ideas out of thin air. That would be awesome. Of course, 75 percent of the time, I sit down to blog and have no idea what I am going to write. Sometimes I think if I just start typing, something will come to me. But then I remember, if blogging was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Oh wait, just about everyone does!!

The other reason I skipped is because I've had too many negatives happening to people around me. I am praying for so many who are sick or struggling or broken in some way. It just seemed inappropriate to be all flippant about nothing. But it's a new day and I am seeing some situations turning in a positive direction. Thanks be to God.

Not that I have anything to write about tonight – light or otherwise. Good thing this blog is not called On the Light Bulb Side. Then it would have to be grand ideas to improve our lives!

Whew. No pressure.

Besides all the praying, we are occupied this week with prom plans. Hubby and Carter picked up the tux tonight. I realized I was the only one who hadn't seen it. Even the mom of Carter's date has seen it and was there with her daughter's dress when they ordered it a few weeks ago. I won't give much away since I want you to be surprised at the first photos Saturday, but let's just say he'll be beyond dapper!

Since this is traditionally considered the "junior prom," as parents of a junior, we are required to "volunteer" for several tasks. I'll be busy tomorrow afternoon/evening, Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday, pretty much all day and evening. That's OK. This is fun for me and, if the weather forecast of sunny and 60s holds true, it will be enjoyable for all.

In anticipation of the hard labor (ha), I participated in Girls' Night Out this evening. This is a monthly gathering of "girls" of a certain age bracket. I don't make it monthly. In fact, I make it maybe 2-3 times a year tops. This afternoon at work, though, I decided I NEEDED some time away from thinking. Just talking and laughing and eating.

That definitely restored my LIGHT mood. Still looking for an idea to blog about, so I might just have to keep grabbing at thin air and hope.

Thanks for bearing with me...

Second Chance to Chill

Feeling pressure from my Mint constituents, I knew I better try one of those new Grasshopper Mousse Pie Blizzards this month.

While I had hoped to dip into one on Friday or Saturday, I wasn't in the vicinity of a Dairy Queen. On Sunday after church, I drove right by with all intentions to stop but even so close to noon, it wasn't open yet! By then I figured my diet gods had stronger will power than my mint network – or it just wasn't meant to be.

I'm a big fan of second chances, though.

Today I worked from the home office to accommodate an 11:30 church committee meeting. It just happened to get done before noon and my church just happens to be only 3 blocks from DQ. Just to make sure I didn't show up before noon, I stopped at the bank first. Then, as timing would have it, I got to DQ to see a neon OPEN sign.

I figured I better just order a small one – in case I didn't like it. (Eye Roll). Plus, I had worked out this morning and really didn't need to set myself back already. The "pie" was so light and fluffy, though, it couldn't have contained many calories, could it?

Glad I gave DQ a second chance to be open. While I enjoyed the new flavor – and wouldn't turn it down if one was purchased for me – I didn't fall in LOVE with it. I know, I know. I have high mint standards. Plus, I really prefer "hard" ice cream to soft serve. I feel like I'm getting some substance to the fat intake. Ha.

Between that and the open window in my office (60 degrees today), I was in a good mood.

Even after parent-teacher conferences! Nothing too bad. Carter is still "a joy to have in class" and charming and respectful. He just has some study habits he needs to hone sooner rather than later.

Good thing I am not the only one who believes in second chances!

Royal Regional

For the past two years, our girls basketball team has gone to state and been in the championship game. Two years ago, we won by 4 points and took home the gold ball. Last year, we lost by 4 and took home the silver.

A couple of talented seniors graduated and there are no seniors on the girls team this year, but Carter's classmates have definitely kept the momentum going.

We can't assume anything. It's best to take one game at a time. But it sure was exciting to see them take home the regional championship tonight with a 66-28 win! It is especially fun to see the daughters of good friends succeed. (And I can still get my own daughter fix!)

The next game will be on Thursday against Loyal. It will be played in Waupaca since sectional games always require bigger venues.

In the meantime, the boys start their regional playoffs on Tuesday. There's always so much overlapping at this time of year. The boys are doing well. Hopefully, I'll be posting a similar picture of them next Saturday!

Time for Carter to break out the Royal Blue & White striped spirit bibs for Pep Band, wouldn't you say?

Nice work, Royals!

Please Hold On To The Bar

Fasten your seat belts. Hold on to the bar. The roller coaster ride is about to begin!

Yup, we just registered Carter for his ACT Test in April. From here on out, we are on the college-bound ride from hell. Or, thinking positively, maybe it will be gentle and calm like the Lazy River at a waterpark.

Ha. Unlikely.

Between the 2-hour financial aid meeting last night and the 30-minute registration for the test, this is occupying our minds AND our time already. Of course it will all be worth it. I'm just still in denial that our baby is this close to moving onto the next amusement park without us!

I also can't believe a 16-year-old HAS to know what his career will be. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? I don't even know that yet! In order to appease all the inquiring minds, he tells people "chemical engineering." Granted, he will likely use his math skills to go in that direction, but who knows if that is going to be it. For now, I think he just wants a ready answer when people ask.

This avoids a further grilling and a bevy of suggestions. That inevitably comes when they ask what college he is interested in. The answer: He doesn't know. We haven't reached that peak on the roller coaster yet. But I am sure we'll be picking up speed in that direction before we are ready.

And by "we" I mean Boy Wonder AND his soon-to-be impoverished parents. I mean proud parents!

Should be quite the ride over the next 12 months or so. Good thing I don't get motion sickness.

I will keep the anxiety pills handy, though!

Do Reality Checks Bounce?

I wish there was a way to cash reality checks. It would be nice to cash them in a real bank instead of just our memory banks. Thought that institution is going to fill up quickly.

Hubby and I got our first check of many to come tonight when we attended a Financial Aid informational meeting. Well the first dose of reality is that we are a mere year away from finalizing college plans for Boy Wonder and apply for some tuition assistance.

Scary, sad and exciting – all in one.

The meeting was too long in those uncomfortable desks but we learned a lot. It was good see cost comparisons among Wisconsin schools – from tech to 4-year – plus the plethora of options available to help students get there. Wow. Thankfully quite a few.

The last time I sat in a Financial Aid meeting was probably about 30 years ago. Everything went way over my head as I had no concept of finances and only knew my impoverished self qualified for a piece of the pie.

Fast forward 3 decades and much of it still went over my head. But we have a year to figure it out. It was just helpful to know what adjustments we might have to make this year. And if Jim should start selling his blood instead of donating it. I can't help in that fund-raising category but for my part, I'll keep buying those lottery tickets.

Our next reality check comes this week, too, as we register for the ACT test. Can this really be happening? Has time flown that quickly?

Carter is already joking about being out of our hair in 18 months or so. I don't mind him in my hair.
In fact, I had my hair artist appointment today. She got rid of the gray but I specifically requested she keep Carter in.

You can bank on it!

Pepped Up

The week leading up to the Homecoming football game is like a 5-day Pep Rally, culminating the night before with the actual pep festival.

Since I have been out of town so much, I am a bit behind on the details of Homecoming. I knew Carter has a date – his friend Macyn – but that was about it. On Thursday I finally learned of the details of where pictures and dinner were going to be on Saturday. But there was another detail we overlooked.

I was at school by 2 this afternoon setting up for the German Club's annual Oktoberfest fundraiser. Great opportunity to enjoy polka music while eating brats, German potato salad and apple strudel. A successful event each year. Since Carter had cross country practice, he couldn't help with the setup. Since he had to work tonight, he couldn't play with the band or participate in any of the games at the Pep Rally.

He stopped to see me between school and practice and that is when I learned that other important detail: Carter has outgrown his black dress pants and needs new ones to wear for the dance... which is tomorrow, if I didn't mention that earlier. There are 2 other area schools with Homecoming dances then, too. Would there even be any black dress pants in stock anywhere in town at this point?

I had about half an hour between doing the setup and decorating before I had to sell food tickets. So I raced over to the JcPenney store, the only thing local really, and managed to find pants his size (whew), a new black shirt he also needed and, of course, a $40 tie to match his date's outfit.

No typos there, folks. Ugh.

Back to school, I learned another detail. Carter has been battling a old for two weeks an feels so crappy, he doesn't want to work, run cross country or stay at that dance tomorrow night beyond the Grand March. Am I bad mother for not knowing this sooner? Not really. It's not my fault he gets home at night and pretty much heads to his room to do homework.

I'm going to have to whip together some magic potion from my essential oils and hope that does the trick! Keep your fingers crossed.

Even though he had to work, we still went to the Pep Rally and had some fun.

The football team is introduced. They called attention to all the fall sports, which is cool. Carter missed his chance to stand with the cross country team. So no need to sneak any photos this year.

Immediately following the Pep Rally is the traditional lighting of the Assumption "A". That did not generate heat for two long in the chilly weather, but it was cool to look at for the 5 minutes it burns.

Here is the banner for Carter's class. It's always interesting that Homecoming Week often is more a competition between classes than a battle against our football opponent. Since this year we face our nemesis, Wausau Newman, that has changed.

This weeks, it's cardinal season. Can't wait to see how that pans out tomorrow.

Hopefully Carter is as pepped up (and healthy) as everyone else!

Get the Picture?

Hubby felt compelled to remind me that today is our boy's last "school picture day." Next year, it's SENIOR picture time!

Noooo. Say it ain't so!

Time is going too quickly as it is. And if you don't believe me, take a look at this "Throwback Thursday" photo of our almost grownup...

This was actually from a "real" photo shoot. I was working on an arts and crafts magazine at the time, and we borrowed Carter to model the "snowflake ensemble." This was the summer of 2003 after he'd just turned 5. It was for a Christmas magazine but since it was summer, we simulated "snow" on the porch by scattering potato flakes.

There, now you learned some behind-the-scenes tricks for your next Christmas in July photo shoot!

I miss that adorable little boy, but as I tell new parents, every age is "the best age!" Even tonight, when Carter noticed this new picture on my wall, I had to laugh when he feigned (I'm sure) having to toss his cookies over such a sight.

What? Too soon? I'm sure deep down he is just as anxious for the "season" as me!

Actually, really deep down, I bet he looks forward to Mom & the Hallmark Channel as much as I look forward to Carter & Senior Pictures.

Let's not rush either one. Get the picture?

Today's Numbers: Seven-Eleven

Got my backpack... got wheels... look out junior year, here I come!

Yup, it's back-to-school time for our baby. Since I had to get to work early and the first day of school starts late (8:30 instead of 7:30), I had to rely on hubby for the traditional first day of school photo.

He did a fine job, especially considering Carter overslept and was certainly not in the mood for Mom's scrapbook demands.

The good news for him is that he is in 11th grade now and only has to deal with this one more time... except those college move-in days and all that. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Today was also the first cross-country meet of the year. That's why I had to work early so I could leave early and we could get to Pittsville by 4 p.m. According to the Weather Channel, it was not going to start raining there until 6 p.m.

They were wrong. The kids had to run in a light rain the whole time. Glad I have a Royal blue rain coat with hood. Jim had to borrow my Twins umbrella since our huge golf umbrella was home in the garage. Didn't quite think that one through, but we were in a hurry to get there on time!

The boys finally have a larger varsity team, with Carter, 3 fellow juniors and 4 sophomores. There are two varsity girls and two middle-schoolers, as well. Finally some numbers instead of last year's total of 6 kids. Above, Carter is in the middle, still running with other Royals after mile 1. Then they spread out more.

Here he is in the final sprint to the finish. He ended up finishing 7 seconds faster than his end time at Pittsville last year. What an encouraging start to the season. I hope he feels good about it. Haven't got to talk to him since he and the team were going out to eat after the meet.

I wonder if he'll have homework to do tonight. He'll have to get back into that routine far better than his waking up to the atomic alarm efforts this morning!

Ahhh.... love that back-to-school time, don't you?

'Twas the Night Before...

'

'Twas the night before 11th grade and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for my computer mouse...

With 3 assignments done, Carter is working on his 4th school assignment due the first day tomorrow. Since he needs the computer, I will log off and appreciate that MY summer isn't over.

Can't wait for the daily challenge of dragging him out of bed begins! Better get to sleep so we can get that started!

OK, mouse... back to homework...