What a Difference!

What a difference a day makes - or in this case an overnight! Wow! Son2 got up this morning, showered, dressed, cheerful, did his chores, made his lunch and got ready for school - no fits, no tantrums, no fighting with his brother.....It was absolutely wonderful! (He was actually dressed before he came in to snuggle with me) I had him into bed last night - lights out - by 8:10 pm though he says he didn't go to sleep until after 8:30. Beyond that we didn't do anything different - he did not want to go to Wednesday night church and frankly I choose not to argue with him over that. I simply told him that he would be going to bed at 8:00 and I did not want to hear any whines about boredom or regretting not going. I didn't so that's a plus also. I know that he's looking forward to Erin's House tonight - to getting to go into the Tornado Room. Beyond that I have no idea what the difference was but I sure am thankful. It made for a much better morning for all of us. And last night I actually got to spend a few minutes cross stitching - probably about 15 but that's better than none.

I'm really thankful that we are able to get back to a regular schedule at Erin's House - I look forward to the contact with others who are in the same situation I am. I really struggle with being told that it's time to stop going there - stop rehashing the death and move on. I'm being told this by a friend who lost her first husband and is now remarried and has a baby. She never did end up taking her girls there and hasn't approved of us going there from the beginning. However I don't feel like I'm stuck reliving - I just need the support of being able to share with others for 2 hours a month. Son1 doesn't get to go because he has a cross country meet tonight - I will miss getting to watch that and having him wiht us. However it's important that Son2 and I go anyway.

On a different note - I saw 18 deer on the bus route this morning. Mostly it's in the usual groups of 2-3 at a time. However in one place we saw 6! (Actually I saw 19 but only 18 were while I had kids on the bus). Anyway it's really fun to look for them and keep count. The drive was beautiful - the sun came out yet there was these dark clouds in the background. I wish I could capture the scene in photography and words - the ripening fields of corn and soybeans, the dark clouds in the background and the sun's rays slanting across - making everything sharper and more vibrant.

Yeah for Fog Delays

It's going to be a different morning today. Son2 is still sleeping. Actually he went back to sleep when he heard we are on a 2 hour fog delay. I didn't get the news until 6:00 am so wasn't able to go back to sleep. I am glad for the delay as I had an Amish run last night that had me home later than I prefer to be. A couple of my riders didn't hear me pull into where I picked them up so we ran late from the start. Then at one point we came on a train just stopped on a RR track - blocking the road. That meant a turn-around and a detour. We waited abit then decided to go around as we couldn't hear any engine sounds. So anyway....we got home late. It was already fairly foggy in spots.

This weekend was another busy one - Son 1's third and final weekend cross country meet. It was another very big one - south of here in a park. There were 8 races again though we only had runners in 4 of them. Son1 ran the course in 14:50 - a good time especially considering it was a hilly course with the start being an uphill. (he says it was supposed to be an easy course but no one really did outstanding - on our teams). He's got two more meets this week - Tues & Thurs. I will get to see the Tues. meet but not the Thursday meet as that's away and Son2 & I have a commitment elsewhere.

Nothing much else going on....got to get stuff done before having to get out on the bus.

Short & sweet

Long day today but interesting. I drove a field trip to a re-enactment site. It was interesting though I got too cold to go to all the sites. I spent some time sitting on the bus and actually cross stitched. I didn't read any or journal due mainly to being with another driver.

Tonight it's storming - Son2 is waiting in my bed for snuggle time - the thunder is bothering him. I've read some cool blogs today....it's been fun.

And throughout the day I saw 20 deer - 2 this afternoon and all the rest this morning. I know that with hunting season about to start I won't be seeing as many. However it's so cool to see them now.

Today

Ok....I admit it - I'm really frustrated/depressed tonight. I know that I accomplished stuff today but it doesn't feel like it. I got off the bus and right away took a 20 minute walk with Sally (the dog). She sets a pretty decent pace to say the least - it's more like her walking me rather than me walking the dog. Then I came in and started to doing some baking that I wanted to get done. However unfortunately I actually ended up with flames in the bottom of the oven so my baking got put on hold until I was able to get the oven cleaned. I did that this afternoon after my bus route and then did finish up my baking. I have a sack full of paperback books that need to go out - I'm thinking to a nursing home or something similar. I also have two garbage bags full of clothes - one has some that are nearly new in it. I plan to take those to a church in town that I know runs a clothes closet. And I've decided how to sort my cross stitch mags so that I can give away some of them.

I think a huge part of my frustration comes from having a very difficult afternoon bus route today....mainly with my shuttle students. They dawdle out to the bus, they don't want to sit in their seats, they don't want to share seats......the list goes on. I was definitely a screamer today - actually left the school late because kids would not move in to allow another person into their seat. Basically what I think I'm going to have to do is first hand out rule sheets to all the shuttle students so I can figure out who they are. Secondly I'm going to have to come up with a seating chart and I may have to break down and get a camera on board. I really don't want to do that though so will see if a seating chart helps.

On a brighter note.....I did see 17 deer this morning while I was on the bus. 12 of them were while I had students on the bus. The remaining 5 I saw while I was on the way home. It was amazing - one day I will get out early with my camera.

I had an epiphany!!

I've been following Flylady's hints - www.flylady.com
recently - just getting started. I'm trying to at least get my sink emptied and shined everynight. Anyway yesterday in one of the emails she was talking about clutter and the things people do to try to ignore/avoid it. One of the examples given was that we tend to leave the house all day and try to pretend it doesn't exist because we are staying busy outside of home. That completely resonated with me - I've done it in the past. And this week was shaping up to be hectically busy because I'm having a difficult time saying no to people - as a result I wasn't getting time at home - or at least not nearly enough time. The kids have been cranky, I've been cranky and things have just been getting more and more chaotic and overwhelming. So....I gave away my Amish run that I had scheduled for tonight - paid S the difference between what I would have charged and what she would normally charge. I could have used the money I would have made but I figured with a trip last night and another one - all day on Friday - and another Saturday meet I really needed the time at home with the boys. Especially since Son2 has a cold coming on.

Last night's trip was a cross country meet that I drove - I really enjoy doing those (though I was a bit peeved at the condition of the bus afterwards!) Son2 did very well - ran the course in 15:27. That's not an overall PR but it is a PR on that particular course so I'm pleased. He also placed high enough to earn a ribbon which is excellent. My trip on Friday is a 4th grade field trip that I get to take Son2 on. There will be 4 buses going at least so it should be interesting. I probably won't spend the entire time with Son2 but just getting to be the one to drive him will be good.

My current goal is to not take anything more lengthy during the week than a trip to the grocery in the way of Amish runs - that will give me just a bit of cash. Then on weekends I will still be available to do at least one evening run. Hopefully financially I will be able ot handle things this way. But my boys have to come first and cash won't do me any good if I'm too cranky to deal with them.

On a different note - this morning on the bus route we saw one deer - in the middle of the road no less! - and a wolf/coyote. I think it had the coloring of a wolf but one of my students didn't think it was large enough to be one. Either way - it's the first of either I've seen in the wild so it was still exciting.

Deer and Sunshine!!

It's going to be a beautiful sunny day today - maybe cool but sunny!!! Yeah! We haven't had sunshine in what seems like far too long - at least not consistent sunshine. And I saw a total of 13 deer this morning while on my bus. Ten of them were while I had students on with me - then I saw 2 before i picked anyone up and 1 on my way home after dropping everyone. I really really enjoy my bus route - it's fun to keep an eye out for the deer and keep track of how many we see. Probably the coolest ones were the mama and 2 fawns that were on a mowed lawn relatively close to the road - we got a good look as they tried to decide which way to run.

I had intended on walking today...had actually hoped to get a walk in. However I'm not sure it will happen - got a call to take some Amish to the hospital to see the new baby that was just born this morning. Considering I had driven the parents to the hospital last night there was no way I could turn that down. So I'm reconsidering my list of things to do to see what all I need to cut out. Making muffins is gone, the walk is iffy.....dinner has to be fixed as does doing some maintance on this computer. I also need to get out the hose and wash my bus - technically rinse it- focusing on the windows. I have a trip tonight - taking the cross country team to Tippy Valley for a meet. We will be one of 3 schools - nice change from Saturday's meet.

I was really glad I didn't drive Saturday's meet - there were 35 schools - both high school and middle school. In each race there were approximately 200 runners - and they ran 8 races. There were varsity and junior varsity/reserve races for middle school girls, middle school boys, high school girls & high school boys. It was amazing - the crowds were horrendous to say the least. We left before the award ceremony - perks to not driving the bus. However it was so much fun to watch the runners even though one couldn't be at both the starting line and the finish line. I screamed myself hoarse cheering them on. Son1 did absolutely fantastic - his official time was 14:13:30 - over 45 seconds off his time last Thursday. He's well on the way to making his goal for the season - to run the distance under 14 minutes.

Well better scoot - got to get some stuff done today!

Faster Still.....

15 minutes flat - That was Son1's time at his meet today. Tuesday's time was 15:22 so he shaved another 22 seconds off today! The next meet is Saturday - it's another invitational and is apparently HUGE. I guess there are going to be 35 schools involved - there could be 200 runners in each race - Middle school girls Reserve; Middle School Girls Varsity; Middle School boys reserve; Middle school boys Varsity; High school girls reserve; High school girls Varsity, High school boys reserve and High school boys Varsity. The "Varsity" has nothing to do with age and everything to do with speed. Son1 is not by any means the fastest runner on the team - those guys are coming in under 12 minutes for 1.9 miles. The high school boys distance is a 5K race so that's abit longer. He's run those before but not often yet. Anyway Son1's goal for the season is to come in under 14 minutes for the distance - he's already shaved off a complete minute so it's possible.

I've got an Amish run for tomorrow that I really don't want to do....will have to talk to Suz to see what she thinks. I'm just tired - and things are going to get busier over the next month.

Found out tonight that Dad will be going to S. Africa Monday for a month - Mom will stay on this side of the ocean. I have very mixed emotions about that - guess it will be an opportunity for me to learn to trust more. But I really wish I lived closer - or that she could come here for part of that time.

Cross Country Meet

Ok....last night I had a long journal entry typed out - that I was going to post part of on here. However something happened and it completely disappeared. I was not happy but was also way too tired to retype it all. (probably still too tired tonight).

Yesterday I drove the bus for a major cross country meet for Son2. We left the middle school at 7:15 & the high school about 7:30 to arrive at the meet at about 8:15. By that time there was already 8 - 10 other school buses there and you could begin to feel the energy in the air. The first race - middle school girls - started at 9:00 am - and there were over 100 runners. To see the crowd of girls all at the starting line - hear the pistol go off and see them start off was so cool. The spectators lined up along the starting line then divided - in no particular way - and moved to different vantage points along the route. I moved between the starting line, a point near the finish and the finish line itself....it was so cool. Our top middle school girl came in 2nd place. Then it was the middle school boys - again well over 100 runners - again the team runouts, the starting pistol, the energy, the excitement...I'm having a hard time finding the words to describe it. At the finish line - to watch the runners come in....out of breath, sprinting the last few hundred feet, puking, crying, exhilerated, convinced they couldn't go another step yet doing so anyway.....the thrill and the agony all together. Son 2 ran the course in 15:41 - a full 20 seconds off his time for the same distance (different course) last Thursday - and far better than the same course one year ago. At the end he had enough energy left to sprint and pass 3 runners - one just by feet before the finish line. He placed 82 - with 62 runners coming in after him - compared to last year where there were maybe 20 runners behind him.

I am so very very proud of him - he has worked very hard - running year round - improving his time and his stamina. His confidence has grown - in all areas not just running....he's maturing.

AFter the middle school races there was high school girls, high school varsity guys and high school junior varsity guys for a total of 5 races. Out of those 5 races 4 of them had over 100 runners each - the only one that didn't was the high school junior varsity runners. That gives you an idea of the sheer volumne of people and runners there. Our middle school boys and girls both took first place overall - awesome!

I long to be able to run again myself and learn/speak sign language.

Daily Life

No fog delay this morning though there was still fog on the roads. At least 3 school districts in OH cancelled school today - due I'm certain to the fog. I'm really glad we haven't gone that far yet - I suspect it will be a hard winter as it is. Many of the trees are already changing color - a month early.

Son1 had his first cross country meet this afternoon. I finished my route up on the bus then drove back to the middle school for the meet. He hit a Personal Record - did the course in 16:01. That's 8 seconds off his time trial last week and far better than any of his times in the past. And our course is harder than most of the other courses he will run this season. I think the girls team won while the boys team didn't do as well. However the most important thing in my book is that he does his best and improves over his own times.

The kitchen is clean....mostly at least and the dishes are done. Yesterday I did not shine my sink - it really does make a noticable difference to get up to a clean sink. I've started going through the fridge and all the laundry that is done is folded. It is major baby steps but it's a start. It will come easier once I actually get on a schedule and stay home more than I'm gone during the week. This will be a very short weekend however as I'm driving a cross country meet on Saturday.

I keep thinking that one of these times I will post/write something really inspired but this is really truly just day to day life. Son2 reads well when he wants to - loves to read Star Wars books. The challenge is to get him to read his homework...he just really doesn't like to do that - thinks it's a waste of time. Ok....I'm going to take my tired self towards bed.

Fog Again....

We are under another 2 hour delay....this morning the fog is actually getting thicker rather than lifting. Son1's meet was cancelled yesterday because the other school system didn't even go due to the fog. (It's completely amazing to actually cancel school due to fog - but as a bus driver I'd rather not drive in heavy fog). Both boys were very disappointed.

Son2 is having issues with reading....he's a very capable reader - reads above his grade level and comprehends well. However he doesn't enjoy reading and fights doing homework that involves reading. He seems to feel that because he's read it at school he shouldn't have to read it a second time. It's frustrating and I'm not sure how to encourage him. I would like to see him consistently pick up a book to read for enjoyment....he doesn't do that.

OK...got to go get started on the day - discombobulated though it may be.

Two Hour Delay

Two hour fog delay this morning....first one of the school year. I was actually surprised we didn't have one last Friday. These two hour weather delays were something to get used to when we moved up here. The only thing they did in OK weatherwise was to either have the buses leave early - they always ended up running late - or actually cancel school. Today is also Son1's first cross country meet of the season - at home. I'm planning on running my afternoon route and then just going straight to the school with the bus. Son2 should have arrived by another bus about the same time I get there.

It's going to be a busy week this week - 3 cross country meets including a Saturday one that I'm driving for.....the small group that I'm going to possibly be involved in starts Wednesday night at church....getting the car fixed over the weekend....In between I have some letters to write and hope to get my stitching out again.

Better go get going on the day....I've had coffee now.

Missing Posts & Comments

Ok...this is really strange. I did a recap last night & posted it but it still hasn't shown up. Neither have my comments. I'm not sure why nor how to "fix" it. One of these days I suppose I really really need to learn more about the computer. However I really have no desire to do that at all.

Today was a very quiet day around the house. Both boys went home from church with a friend - they helped him build a fence...or rather finish it. By about 3:00 pm I'd had enough "quiet" to last me for awhile - it was very odd. I think the dog even noticed how quiet it was as she kept barking. Now that the boys are home she has settled down alot.

I have an Amish run tonight - won't make much as it's only taking one person north. However I felt like I could do it as I don't have school tomorrow. I'm looking forward to being able to sleep in (I hope) then am planning on us going to see a movie and maybe dinner out.

Warm fresh peach jam on fresh homemade bread is absolutely the best snack ever! And for a change my bread turned out pretty good. Now I've jsut got to go unload the dishwasher (normally the boys' job but they are both asleep) and put the dinner leftovers away. I made spagetti and used several tomatoes from the garden. I also picked up and re-organized the front room a bit, wrote one letter and started another one. Now....just to fit time in so that I can stitch in the evenings.

Recap

Well today turned out ok I guess....Son2 ended up going to his SS teacher from the last couple of years for the afternoon. He helped build a fence, feed calves, drove a tractor and I'm not sure what all else. He came back in a much better frame of mind - hopefully with the knowledge that to be part of the family he's got to help with chores. In the meantime, Son1 and I did some grocery shopping, moved the exercise bike inside and watched a movie together (or at least most of one). I had planned on us going to the "city" tomorrow after church. However since Son2 is going back to finish the job we will put that off until Monday. I'm glad to be out of school Monday but at some point I've got to get my paperwork together for the bus route.

ARGH

Complete and total frustration! I got up this morning with a severe sinus headache - could not sleep. Since that time I've been both trying to get rid of it and to get the house picked up and cleaned. Son1 has done a decent job today of helping and getting his chores done. Son2....it's an ongoing weekly battle that I simply cannot seem to make progress on. He refuses to co-operate at all - even in the basic things that involve his stuff. I hate sounding like a nag yet I can't seem to make any progress at all. He's a child that physical discipline has never worked on and he's big enough that nothing else works either. ARGH. And even though this weekend is a 3 day weekend - next weekend essentially will only be a 1 day weekend as I'm driving a cross country meet for Son1. I'm excited to get to drive some of Son1's events - I get in free and get to be with him. (He's informed me he won't talk to me or sit near me.....that makes me smile as that's not new.) I am attempting to work with FLYLADY's routines.....getting the sink cleaned at night, planning ahead...basically getting control. However right now I'm behind - hate the chaos and hate the attempting to get Sons to help. OK...enough. I'll try to post something more positvie later.